[ PROCEDURAL  ] [00:01:12] >> MAYOR JONES: GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS NOW 9:13 A.M. ON APRIL 16TH, 2026, AND THE MEETING OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO IS CALLED TO RECOGNIZE TODAY'S INVOKE INVOCATEUR. >> TODAY I AM PLEASED TO INTRODUCE MAURICIO FERNANDEZ WITH CROSSROADS CHURCH. HE'S FOLLOWING IN HIS PARENTS' FOOTSTEPS WHO STUDIED SEMINARY AND STUDIED MINISTRY. HE SERVES AS THE YOUTH MINISTER FOR CROSSROADS RUNNING YOUTH GROUPS AND GLIDING YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR SPIRITUAL PATH. HE'S CURRENTLY STUDYING A DOUBLE BACHELOR'S DEGREE. IT'S DURING HIS STUDIES THERE THAT HE MET HIS WIFE WHO HE MARRIED EARLIER THIS YEAR. MR. FERNANDEZ, I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU COULD BE HERE WITH US TODAY AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU. >> THANK YOU. WELL, WILL Y'ALL BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY WITH ME, PLEASE? DEAR HEAVEN LI FATHER, LORD, THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER THIS MORNING, LORD, AS WE ALL COME TOGETHER TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN US, FATHER. LORD, AS WE GATHER HERE THIS MORNING WE PRAY THAT YOUR PRESENCE FILL THIS ROOM, LORD, THAT YOU MAY HELP US TO GLORIFY YOU IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED, FATHER, AND LORD, AS WE ARE GATHERED HERE THIS MORNING, WE ARE GATHERED WITH ONE COMMON GOAL IN MIND, LORD, AND THAT IS TO BE GOOD STEWARDS OF THAT WHICH YOU HAVE GIVEN US. TO THOSE THAT ARE IN AUTHORITY I PRAY THAT YOU FILL THEM WITH WISDOM AND YOU HELP THEM HEAR AND LISTEN, LORD, WHAT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO NEED, LORD, TO THOSE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, LORD, I PRAY THAT YOU MAY GIVE THEM DISCERNMENT, LORD, TO SEE AND LISTEN TO WHAT IS YOURS AND WHAT ISN'T YOURS, FATHER. AS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO I PRAY THAT YOU HELP US SERVE THOSE HUMBLY, LORD, WHO ARE IN NEED, AND FATHER, AS WE GATHER HERE THIS MORNING, LORD, I JUST PRAY THAT YOU WILL HELP THIS MEETING BE EFFICIENT, BE PRODUCTIVE, LORD, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, LORD, THAT WE MAY GLORIFY YOU IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO. WE THANK YOU AND WE LOVE YOU AND WE GIVE YOU ALL OF THE PRAISE AND THE WORSHIP, LORD, AND IT'S IN YOUR NAME THAT WE PRAY, AMEN. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, PASTOR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. GET IN TODAY'S BUSINESS, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE UNFORTUNATE PASSING OF DR. [00:05:03] DR. MANUEL BARELSAL. CERTAINLY A PILLAR IN HIS COMMUNITY, HIS WIFE. HIS PASSING YESTERDAY MORNING WAS UNFORTUNATELY A LOSS WE WILL FEEL IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME. MANUEL, UT MATHEMATICS PROFESSOR, WAS BORN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS IN 1931. HE STUDIED MATHEMATICS AT ROCK HURTS COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME AND UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LANGUAGE. HE TAUGHT AT UCLA, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY OF LOS ANGELES AND SINCE 1976 WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO. HE JOINED THE FACULTY THERE AS PART OF THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCES IN 1976. JUST THREE YEARS INTO HIS TENURE, HE BROUGHT A SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH BASED PROGRAM, WHICH EARNED NATIONAL RECOGNITION AND BECAME KNOWN AS THE PREFRESHMAN ENGINEERING PROGRAM OR PREP. AS OF TODAY THE PROGRAM SPANS SEVEN STATES AND HAS REACHED OVER 50,000 STUDENTS IN TEXAS ALONE. HE SAID HE WAS INSPIRED TO CREATE IT AFTER READING AN ARTICLE IN A MAGAZINE WROTE ANONYMOUSLY THAT SAID MEXICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITIES DIDN'T PRODUCE ENGINEERS. HE SERVED AS PREPS DIRECTOR UNTIL THE TWO AND ENCOURAGED STUDENTS TO JOIN ST. SAN ANTONIO AFTER THEY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL. HE FOUND THAT STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN PREP DID SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER AT THE UNIVERSITY THAN THOSE WHO DID NOT. IN 1998 THE QUALITY EDUCATION FOR MINORITIES NEW YORK NAMED HIM AS ONE OF THE SIX GIANTS IN SCIENCE. SOON FOLLOWING THIS AWARD HE BECAME A RECIPIENT OF THE SAN ANTONIO I HAVE A DREAM FOUNDATION ENDEAVORS AWARD IN MAY OF THAT SAME YEAR. HIS ADDITIONAL AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS INCLUDE THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR CELL BIOLOGY, BRUCE ALBERTS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE EDUCATION IN 2009, THE INNOVATION AND EDUCATION AWARD IN 2007 AND THE MATHEMATIC ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN AWARD FOR MATHEMATICS IN 2001. HE WAS NAMED AN INAUGURAL FELLOW OF THE MATHEMATICAL SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT, COMMUNICATION AND UTILIZATION OF MATHEMATICS IN 2013. HIS SPECIFIC PREP PROGRAM ACCOLADES INCLUDE THE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, ENGINEERING, MENTORING, A TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION STAR AWARD, CITATIONS FROM THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE AND A CONGRESSIONALLY MANDATED BUILDING ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE TALENT BEST PROJECT CITATION. THANKS TO THE TIRELESS EFFORTS OF HIM, THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM IS SO WELL REGARDED ON OTHER UNIVERSITIES HAVE ADOPTED THE MODEL AND IT EXISTS IN 33 SITES IN 25 CITIES AND SEVEN STATES AS OF 2019. IN 2015 THE WHITE HOUSE COMMISSION ON EXCELLENCE RECOGNIZED PREP AS A BRIGHT SPOT IN HISPANIC EDUCATION. MANY THANKS -- BELOVED BY HIS STUDENTS AND FELLOW FACULTY HE TAUGHT AT U.S. SAN ANTONIO LONGER THAN MOST PROFESSORS BECAUSE OF HIS PASSION FOR THE FIELD OF MATHEMATICS AND STUDENT SUCCESS, AND MORE RECENTLY, OF COURSE, THE NAMESAKE FOR CAFE COLLEGE, WHICH AIDS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THEIR PATH TO HIGHER EDUCATION. OUR THOUGHTS ARE OF COURSE WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY. SO PLEASE JOIN ME IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. ITEM 3 DOES APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE COUNCIL MEETINGS OF APRIL 1 AND APRIL 2, 2026. ARE THERE ANY EDITS OR CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES? IS THERE A MOTION FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES? >> I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE. >> SECOND. >> MAYOR JONES: THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE. PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. [POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE  ] THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF CEREMONIALS. I AM VERY EXCITED FOR ALL OF THEM, BUT IN PARTICULAR TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE'S 85TH ANNIVERSARY. HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT. I'M GOING TO READ THIS. YOU KNOW, AS SOMEBODY THAT GREW UP ON THE FAR WESTSIDE OF TOWN, I JUST KNEW THIS PLACE AS THE PLACE I WOULD HAVE TO HOLD MY BREATH FOR 15 SECONDS WHEN I DROVE BY. [LAUGHTER]. NOT KNOWING THE AMAZING CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND HEALTH CARE THAT HAPPENED THERE UNDER THE -- NOW UNDER [00:10:02] THE LEADERSHIP OF DR. SCHLESSINGER, BUT REALLY A BRIGHT SPOT IN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S MY HONOR TO READ THIS CONGRATULATIONS. SO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HERE BY PRESENTS ITS OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS OF DR. SCHLESSINGER, IF YOU AND YOUR TEAM WOULD LIKE TO STAND AT THE PODIUM. HEREBY PRESENTS ITS OFFICIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE ON THEIR 85TH ANNIVERSARY. FOR 85 YEARS TEXAS BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE HAS ADVANCED THE FRONTIERS OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH TO PROTECT SAN ANTONIANS AND AROUND THE WORLD, PIONEERING DISCOVERY AND DEMONSTRATING AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL HEALTH. SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 1941 IT HAS REMAINED DEDICATED TO THE WELFARE OF HUMAN KIND THROUGH INNOVATIVE SCIENCE AND THE FOUNDER OF ITS FOUND --O IMAGINED A CITY OF SCIENCE TO DRIVE HUMAN PROCESS. NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH, TEXAS BIO MED IS THE ONLY NON-PROFIT INSTITUTE IN THE UNITED STATES TO COMBINE HIGH LEVEL CONTAINMENT LABORATORIES WITH A FEDERALLY DESIGNATED PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER. THROUGH MORE THAN EIGHT DECADES OF DISCOVERY, ITS WORK HAS TRIBUTED TO TRANSFORMATIVE BREAK THROUGHS IN DIAGNOSTICS, VACCINES AND THERAPIES INCLUDING THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19, EBOLA. TEXAS BIO MED ALSO HELPED TO DEVELOP THE NEONATAL VENTILATOR THAT HELPS BABIES BORN PREMATURELY TO BREATHE. WITH THE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT, TEXAS BIO MED CONTINUES TO EXCEL IN DISCOVERS TO ADDRESS CONGRESS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE. THESE CONFRONT THE MOST URGENT PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGES AND EMERGING THREATS THAT WILL IMPACT FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE ORGANIZATION'S ENDUREING COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, ETHICAL RESEARCH AND GLOBAL COLLABORATION HAS HELPED POSITION SAN ANTONIO AS A HUB FOR BIOSCIENCE AND INNOVATION. TEXAS BIO MED ALSO INSPIRES YOUNG PEOPLE IN SAN ANTONIO TO BECOME PART OF THIS WORLD CLASS BIOSCIENCE ECOSYSTEM THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT IMPACT OVER 15,000 STUDENTS EACH YEAR. THOUGH THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATION AND SCIENTIFIC LEADERSHIP, TEXAS BIO MED CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND GLOBAL HEALTH. THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO JOIN YOU IN CELEBRATING THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION AND EXTEND BEST WISHES FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME. HAPPY 85TH ANNIVERSARY. AND DR. SCHLESSINGER IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. ON BEHALF OF THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM AT TEXAS BIO MED, THE TRUSTEES, AND OUR 500 EMPLOYEES AT TEXAS BIO MED, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MAYOR JONES, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, I WANT TO THANK THE CITY MANAGER, ERIK WALSH, FOR THIS HIGH DISTINCTION YOU'VE PUT UPON US THIS MORNING. HOW GRATE ELF WE ARE TO HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS COMMUNITY NOW FOR 85 YEARS AND COUNTING. AMAZING TO THINK THAT BASED ON OUR FOUNDER'S VISION, TOM SLICK JUNIOR, TO MOVE FROM A SMALL RANCH BUILDING ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF UP TO, IT TRULY WAS THE OUTSKIRTS IN 1941, TO AN INTERNATIONAL LEADER IN GLOBAL HEALTH AND AN IMPORTANT ANCHOR IN COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN'S GREAT WESTSIDE DISTRICT. AT TEXAS BIO MED WE WORK EVERYDAY TIRELESSLY TO DISCOVER AND DEVELOP NEW CURES TO IMPROVE PUBLIC HEALTH AND NATIONAL SECURITY AGAINST SOME OF THE GREATEST INFECTIOUS DISEASE THREATS THAT WE FACE. IMPORTANTLY WE FOCUS ON THOSE MOST VULNERABLE TO INFECTION AND THE STRONG LINKS BETWEEN INFECTION AS A TRIGGER AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES SUCH AS CANCER, CARDIOVASCULAR AND NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES AND AGING. WE BUILT THIS INNOVATION ENTERPRISE ALSO, AND YOU MENTIONED THIS, TO SERVE AS A CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS, WHICH I'M PERSONALLY VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT, TOUCHING THE LIVES OF OVER, AS YOU MENTIONED, 16,000 STEM STUDENTS EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR HANDS' ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AT THE INSTITUTE. WE STOOD TOGETHER DURING THE PANDEMIC, EMPHASIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR SUPPORT, THE CITY, FOR ARPA FUNDING TO STRENGTHEN CRITICAL CAMPUS INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CYBER AND FOR THE CRITICAL RESEARCH WE DO WITH UNPARALLELED RESOURCES AND TALENT THAT WE HAVE AT THE INSTITUTE. THE INSTITUTE'S PROUD TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CITY'S GROWING LIFE SCIENCES AND INNOVATION ECONOMY AND IN THIS REGARD I'M ESPECIALLY HONORED TO SERVE ON YOUR COMMITTEE, THE ECONOMIC AND STRATEGIC ADVISORY GROUP, TO HELP SHAPE THAT FUTURE, MAYOR, AND IT'S MY PLEASURE TO DO SO. GOING FORWARD WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON TALENT. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. BOTH HOMEGROWN STEM TALENT AND ATTRACTING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST MINDS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. ALWAYS WITH OUR DEDICATION TO BIG THINKING AND BIG IDEAS, BUILDING A GLOBAL [00:15:04] LIFE SCIENCES HUB HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THAT IS OUR GOAL. WE'LL CONTINUE OUR STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH MILITARY CITY USA AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT UT SAN ANTONIO, SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE PORT, AND OUR GROWING ENTREPRENEUR NEURAL SPACE IN THE CITY. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THIS GREAT HONOR. I THINK WE'VE SHARED OUR 85 ANNIVERSARY PIN WITH ALL OF YOU AND A FACT SHEET, AND IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, BUT I THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING US AND THE GREAT THINGS WE HOPE TO DO FOR THE CITY. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. LET ME SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. TEXAS BIO MED WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TUESDAY I DID WHEN I WAS ELECTED AND DR. SCHLESSINGER, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU IN PERSON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING OUT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS AND WE'VE ALL HAD HEALTH CRISIS AND ISSUES, BUT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ON. COVID WAS NO FUN. THANK Y'ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO, HOW YOU CONTINUE TO SERVE THIS CITY, HOW YOU'VE INSPIRED US TO CONTINUE TO MOVE TOWARDS THAT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND YOUR SERVICE ON THE NEW ADVISORY GROUP THE MAYOR HAS. YOU GUYS WORK TOGETHER AND YOU WORK TO MOVE THIS CITY FORWARD AND DO YOU IT WHERE WE DO NOT OFTEN BRING YOU UP FOR ANNIVERSARIES AND TO SING YOUR PRAISES. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR EFFORTS AND WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BEING PART OF THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU TO THE INCREDIBLE BIO MED TEAM THAT IS HERE TODAY. AGAIN, I COULD NOT BE ANY PROUDTORY HAVE YOU ALL IN DISTRICT 6 AND BEING ONE OF THE FOUNDATIONAL ASPECTS OF HOW DISTRICT 6 EVEN GREW AND STARTED IN HISTORY, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT UP THE HISTORY OF TOM SLICK AS WELL. WE HAVE A PARK DOWN THE ROAD. IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS IN THE BOOK THAT TALKS ABOUT THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY OF HOW THE ENTIRE WESTSIDE WAS SHAPED. ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HAD HER WITH COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR, TALKED ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN BIO MED AND THE MEDICAL CENTER. TO PROVIDE NEW HEALTH CARRY AND PROVIDE HEALTH CARE AND TREAT MANY OF OUR FOLKS IN SAN ANTONIO AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE GLOBE, HAPPENS RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. AND AGAIN, I COULDN'T BE PROUDER TO HAVE YOU IN DISTRICT 6 AND KNOW THAT WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO WORK HAND IN HAND IN SUPPORTING YOUR EFFORTS, CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE LEADING THAT EFFORT HERE IN RESEARCH AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDING AS WELL. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I WILL HAVE TO SAY TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUE RICK, I'M JEALOUS THAT YOU ARE IN DISTRICT 6. THANK YOU. YOU MAKE SAN ANTONIO PROUD AND YOU ARE DOING SO MUCH CRITICAL WORK AS YOU WERE MENTIONING FOR SO MANY RESIDENTS. BUT ALSO I LOVE THE SANE THOUSAND STUDENTS THAT YOU ALL IMPACT AND CARRYING ALL THAT IMPORTANT WORK FORWARD. SO JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU. AND WE'RE SO PROUD AND HAPPY TO HONOR Y'ALL'S 85TH BIRTHDAY WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: CONGRATULATIONS. 85 YEARS OF AN IMPACT WITH ANYTHING IS REMARKABLE, BUT WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT IT'S BIO MED AND BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. FOR DECADES YOU'VE HELPED LEAD CRITICAL RESEARCH IN INFECTIOUS DISEASE, GENETICS AND IMMUNOLOGY, AND A BUNCH OF THINGS I KNOW WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, BUT WE'RE REALLY VERY THANKFUL FOR THE OUTCOMES YOU'VE CREATED AND THE FUTURE THINGS YOU'RE GOING TO DO FOR OUR CITY AND ALL OF THE NATION AND THE WORLD, QUITE FRANKLY. WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THE WAY YOU'VE HELPED POSITION SAN ANTONIO AS A GROWING HUB FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION. AND THIS MATTERS NOT JUST TODAY, BUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED AS A CITY. AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR ECONOMY. A LOT OF IT IS GOING TO BE AROUND WHAT Y'ALL ARE DOING, AND THE SCIENCE AND THE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION, AND Y'ALL ARE GREAT PARTNERS AND WE'RE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU. AND YOU'RE HELPING TO CREATE A LOT OF PATHWAYS FOR TALENT AND FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW MY KIDS AND OTHER PEOPLE'S CHILDREN AND FUTURE GENERATIONS, SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THE LEGACY THAT YOU'RE BUILDING AND WE WISH YOU ANOTHER 85 YEARS ROOTED RIGHT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. SO THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS ON 85 YEARS. YOU'RE A HEALTHY, STRONG 85. THAT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING, RIGHT. BECAUSE OF THE RESEARCH THAT YOU'VE DONE AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO STAY [00:20:03] STRONG AND HEALTHY, BUT YOU'RE ALSO A DISTRICT 8 RESIDENT, LARRY, SO I FEEL CONNECTED TO THIS IN A LOT OF WAYS. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK JUST LIKE PUBLIC SERVICE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THAT RESEARCH IS GOING TO AFFECT, BUT KNOW THAT IT IS DOING SO MANY GOOD THINGS FOR PEOPLE YOU WILL NEVER MEET IN YOUR LIFE. SO THAT'S THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERYDAY ON THIS DAIS IN OUR ROLES AND I KNOW THAT'S WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING. SO JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR SERVICE. AND THAT LOCAL TALENT IS WHAT WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO IMPACT. AND WE ARE WORKING ON AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN. WE KNOW THAT BIO MEDICINE AND BIOSCIENCES HAVE TO BE AT THE TOP OF THAT. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN WHYTE. >> WHYTE: I DON'T WANT TO REPEAT WHAT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES SAID, BUT CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN. I DO WANT TO ECHO THE COMMENTS ON WHAT WE CAN DO HERE IN TERMS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR CITY IN CREATING JOBS. I THINK HERE IN SAN ANTONIO I WAS JUST READING ABOUT 180,000 OR MORE JOBS WE HAVE HERE IN BIOSCIENCES AND HEALTH CARE. MOVING FORWARD THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO INVEST. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NATION AS A WHOLE, PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK ABOUT BOSTON AND SAN FRANCISCO AS REALLY THE BIOSCIENCE HUBS OF AMERICA, BUT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE WITH BIO MED SA, WITH Y'ALL'S WORK, EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENING IN VELOCITY TEXAS OVER THERE, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A HUB HERE. SO THANKS FOR ALL THE WORK. >> IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO SAY, I THINK WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY IN THIS CITY. THE CULTURE THAT DEFINES SAN ANTONIO WILL ALLOW US I THINK TO BEAT OTHER CITIES I LOVE ALL THE COMMENTS. I WANT TO THANK ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. I ALSO WANT TO SAY WE WIN WITH PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE AROUND ME ARE FANTASTIC AND THEY MAKE THE PLACE RUN AND I'M REALLY PROUD TO BE WORKING ALONGSIDE THEM. FINALLY, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE INSTITUTE, PLEASE COME. WE'D WELCOME YOU. WE HAVE NEW BUILDINGS ON CAMPUS. THE MAYOR WAS JUST THERE FOR THE RIBBON CUTTING OF OUR HEALTH CENTER. AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE GROWTH THAT CAN COME WITH THAT AND BRINGING THE NEXT GENERATION ALONG. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT, THANK YOU. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY. IT'S A WONDERFUL OUTFIT. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU ALSO GET TO MEET SOME OF THE FOLKS DOING THE WORK THAT ARE REALLY PROUD TO WORK THERE AS I GOT TO HEAR. THANK YOU, DR. SCHLESSINGER AND OF COURSE THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE ECONOMIC SECURITY ADVISORY GROUP. THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ALL RIGHT. IT'S ALSO NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. I WILL NOW READ A PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY SPARKS CREATIVITY, FUELS IMAGINATION, INSPIRES LIFELONG LEARNING, OFFERING WELCOMING SPACES WHERE INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES CAN FIND JOY THROUGH EXPLORATION AND DISCOVERY. AND WHEREAS LIBRARIES SERVE AS VIBRANT COMMUNITY HUBS THAT CONNECT PEOPLE WITH KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY, FOSTER CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CRITICAL THINKING AND CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AND PROVIDE FREE AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO BOOKS, DIGITAL TOOLS AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING TO ENSURE AND WHEREAS LIBRARIES STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES BY PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES, EXPAND ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND EMPIRE JOB SEEKERS, ENTREPRENEURS AND LIFELONG LEARNERS WITH TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS. AND WHERE WE THEY NURTURE YOUNG MINDS AND WITH THE RIGHT TO READ, THINK AND EXPLORE WITHOUT CENSORSHIP. WITHOUT CENSORSHIP. [APPLAUSE]. STANDING AS CHAMPIONS OF INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND FREE EXPRESSION. AND WHEREAS DEDICATED LIBRARIANS AND WORKERS CREATE INCLUSIVE AND INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTS FOR COLLABORATION AND CREATIVITY AND JOIN COLLEAGUES NATIONWIDE IN CELEBRATING NATIONAL LIBRARY WORK. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 19TH THROUGH 25TH, 2026 TO BE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, AND ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO VISIT THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY, ANY ONE OF THEM, EXPLORE ITS RESOURCES AND CELEBRATE THE MANY WAYS LIBRARIES INSPIRE AND STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITY. THE DIRECTOR OF THE LIBRARY, MR. GUASME, IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL. I AM THE DIRECTOR OF YOUR SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY. ON BEHALF OF OUR STAFF AND THE THOUSANDS IN OUR COMMUNITY WE SERVE EVERYDAY, [00:25:01] THANK YOU FOR THIS DECLARATION OF NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO. NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK HAS BEEN CELEBRATED ACROSS THE NATION SINCE 1958. IT WAS BORN FROM A SIMPLE YET POWERFUL IDEA THAT FREE ACCESS TO BOOKS, INFORMATION AND IDEAS IS ESSENTIAL TO A STRONG AND THRIVING SOCIETY. THAT BELIEF CONTINUES TO GUIDE OUR WORK EVERYDAY IN SAN ANTONIO. THIS YEAR'S NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEKS' THEME IS FIND YOUR JOY, AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF JOY-FINDING AT THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY NEXT WEEK. ON SUNDAY, RESIDENTS CAN SEARCH EACH OF OUR BRANCH LOCATIONS TO FIND HIDDEN GOLDEN EGGS THAT CAN BE EXCHANGED FOR A FREE LIMITED EDITION FIESTA MEDAL. THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WE ARE ALSO INVITING OUR COMMUNITY TO SHARE THEIR LIBRARY STORIES THROUGH REFLECTION MURALS CAPTURING WHAT THE LIBRARY MEANS TO THEM. AND AS ALWAYS, OUR LIBRARIES WILL BE ACTIVE, WELCOMING AND FULL OF LIFE. WE WILL OFFER STORY TIMES, ART EXHIBITIONS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS, TECHNOLOGY CLASSES, MUSIC, TABLETOP GAMING AND HANDS' ON ACTIVITIES INCLUDING CRAFTING. AND IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT IS JUST A PORTION OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE VERY FIRST DAY OF NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK WEEK. ACROSS OUR SYSTEM WE WILL HOST MORE THAN 183 PROGRAMS NEXT WEEK. THAT IS THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENT IN EVERY PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ACCESSIBLE TO ALL. I'M PROUD OF THE SERVICE WE PROVIDE TO THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY AND GRATEFUL FOR OUR HARD-WORKING STAFF, SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE HERE TODAY ALONG WITH OUR BELOVED MASCOT SMARTIE. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR RECOGNIZING THE VITAL ROLE LIBRARIES PLAY IN SAN ANTONIO. WE PROUD TO SERVE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THIS WORK TOGETHER. IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME THIS THE CHAIR OF SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO THE PODIUM. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL AND SAMUEL,, I'M THE CHAIR OF THE LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE BOARD I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. THE VISIBILITY THE LIBRARY RECEIVES THROUGH PUBLIC RECOGNITION LIKE THIS PROCLAMATION HELPS ADVANCE THE MISSION OF THE LIBRARY AND SECRETARY MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS TO THE LIFE-CHANGING RESOURCES THAT WE OFFER THROUGHOUT OUR LIBRARY SYSTEM. THIS WEEK WE CELEBRATE NOT ONLY LIBRARIES, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR LIBRARIES GREAT, OUR DEDICATED STAFF, MANY OF THEM ARE HERE, OUR PARTNERS, OUR SUPPORTERS, AND THE THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS WHO WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS OR USE OUR DIGITAL TOOLS EVERYDAY. LIBRARIES ARE MORE THAN JUST PLACES TO BORROW BOOKS. THEY'RE A VIBRANT COMMUNITY ANCHORS WHERE PEOPLE OF ALL ANIMALS COME TO LEARN, CONNECT AND GROW. AND SINCE 1903 THE SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC LIBRARY IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE DISCOVER THE JOY OF READING, WHERE STUDENTS FIND THE RESOURCES TO SUCCEED, WHERE JOB SEEKERS GAIN NEW JOB-RELATED SKILLS AND WHERE NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER FOR A SHARED PURPOSE. LIBRARIES PROVIDE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGIES, SUPPORT LIFELONG LEARNING, PRESERVE AND PROMOTE LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE AND CREATE WELCOMING SPACES FOR EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND, REGARDLESS OF THEIR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCE. SIMPLY PUT, STRONG LIBRARIES BUILD THRIVING, HEALTHY COMMUNITIES. GREAT LIBRARIES MAKE GREAT CITIES. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED AND SUSTAINED SUPPORT OF THIS INVALUABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCE AND VIVA FIESTA. >> MAYOR JONES: I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU, YOUR WHOLE TEAM, ON HOW WELL YOU ALL PUT ON THE SAN ANTONIO -- THE BOOK FEST. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO SEE ALL THOSE FOLKS, 114 AUTHORS FROM -- WEIGH THOUGHT WAS PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT WAS THAT A THIRD OF THEM WERE FROM SAN ANTONIO. THAT WAS GREAT FOR INTERNATIONAL AS WELL AS FOLKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. CONGRATULATIONS FOR NOT ONLY THAT, BUT THE WORK YOU DO TO MATHEMATIC SURE THESE FACILITIES ARE SAFE AND CLEAN AND OF COURSE WELCOMING. THANK YOU. LET SEE SEE IF ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES WOULD LIKE TO SAY ANYTHING. >> THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF ME CATEGORY 3LESS, MISSION AND PAN AMERICAN, THE THREE LIBRARIES IN DISTRICT 3, I AM EXCITED ABOUT THIS DAY. SMARTIE, THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. I DO WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE, I DID GET THE FIESTA MEDAL AND I DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK FOR A GOLD EGG BUT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK FOR IT BECAUSE IT'S A VERY CUTE MEDAL. YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO [00:30:03] GET IT. IT'S SOMEWHERE. IT'S SOMEWHERE. THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT RESIDENTS ARE USING THE LIBRARIES, THE TEENS USE THE LIBRARIES, THE PROGRAMMING AT THE LIBRARIES. I CAN KEEP ON GOING ON AND ON ABOUT HOW THE COMMUNITY IN DISTRICT 3 AND CITYWIDE USES AND CHERISHES THE LIBRARY. AND I DID THE BOWL CARD WITH MY FACE ON IT, NOT THE MOST FLATTERING PICTURE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT OPTION. I EXPERIENCED THAT. THE OTHER THING IS LIBBY AND CANOPY DIGITAL ONLINE, THAT'S A GREAT OPTION TOO. SO YOU CONTINUE TO INNOVATIVE AND YOU CONTINUE TO LEAD AND I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO GET THE RECOGNITION THAT Y'ALL DESERVE NOT JUST HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, BUT NATIONALLY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU DO ALL YEAR AND SHOULD BE LIBRARY YEAR, RIGHT, ALL YEAR-ROUND. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO ANDREA WHO REPRESENTS DISTRICT 4 ON THE BOARD. I ACTUALLY RAN INTO MS. HARRISS AT THE SAVE THE CITY AND SHE WAS SO EXCITED THE MAYOR SAID LIBRARY IN HER SPEECH. NO ONE EVER TALKS ABOUT THE LIBRARY. THAT'S A REMINDER WE NEED FOR ALWAYS DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY RESOURCE. MY DAD IS A FIXTURE AT THE LIBRARY. HE LOVES GOING THERE. I POP IN AT JOHNSTON AND CORTEZ AND ASK THE LIBRARIANS HOW ARE THINGS GOING, DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU NEED HERE? YOU HAVE GREAT COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR FOLKS FREE, OF COURSE, WHICH IS FANTASTIC. SO KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO AND THAT SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO NOT JUST BOOKS, BUT SO MUCH MORE. I'M GRATEFUL THAT WE GOOD GET TO SHARE SPACES AS BOTH OF OUR FIELD OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND BECAUSE OF THAT WORK AND THE PROGRAMMING THAT THE LIBRARY TEAM PROVIDES IT ALLOWS US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ROBUST THE CITY SERVICES TO CONSTITUENTS WHO TYPICALLY AREN'T ENGAGED IN TERMS OF WHAT THE ROLE OF CITY COUNCIL IS IN SERVICES AND ACCESS AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK BOTH THE TEAM MEMBERS ATLAS PAM MASS AND THE GARDEN, BUT PARTICULARLY [INDISCERNIBLE] BECAUSE SHE HELPED CURATE A HOUSING SECTION OVER AT THAT LIBRARY IN HONOR OF BEXAR HOUSING MONTH. MY UNDERSTANDING IS ALL THE WORKS THAT WERE IN THAT LITTLE SECTION ARE CHECKED OUT, SO THAT'S GREAT. IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT FAIR HOUSING IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU CONTINUE TO DO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY IN OUR LIBRARIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE CITY, PROVIDING INFORMATION, ACCESS AND REACTION AND A CALMING SPACE AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED ACROSS THE COMMUNITY. DO YOU IT WITH GRACE, EXCITEMENT, COMMUNITY. ALL THE FOLKS THAT GO THROUGH THE LIBRARY NEED. I COME FROM A BACKGROUND OF EDUCATORS SO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME, MAYBE, MAYBE NOT RETURNING BOOKS AND VISITING THE GREAT WEST LIBRARY IN PARTICULAR IN DISTRICT 6. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE AS A KID AND EVEN OF COURSE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL SPENT A LOT OF TIME THERE. APOLOGIES TO THE LIBRARIAN THERE. I KNOW I SPENT A LOT OF FUN DAYS THERE. BUT I THINK IT SPEAKS TO SOMETHING THERE. NOT ONLY THE LIBRARIES IN DISTRICT 6, THEY DON'T JUST SERVE AS PLACES TO ENJOY OR SPEND TIME AT OR LEARN AT, BUT THEY'RE TRUE BASTIONS OF DEMOCRACY. NOT BECAUSE THEY HOST ELECTIONS THERE, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO US, BUT IN PARTICULAR PROVIDING ACCESS TO INFORMATION IS SO FOLKS CAN STAY CIVICALLY ENGAGED AT ANY TIME, AT ANY PACE. WHETHER IT'S THE NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS OR THREW BOOKS ON HISTORICAL, CHANGES IN POLITICS LOCALLY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S INCREDIBLE THAT WE HAVE THE LIBRARIES HERE AND OUR CITY HAS DONE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF INVESTING IN THEM TO ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE ACCESS TO THEM. ONE OF THE FAVORITE THINGS I DO IN ANY CITY IS GO VISIT THE LIBRARIES. TAKE A MOMENT, SOMETIMES SEE SOME OF THE OLDER ARCHITECTURE THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE IN SOME OF THE OLDER CITIES IN OUR COUNTRY, BUT ALSO HOW BIG IS THE NETWORK HERE. AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MUCH OUR CITY IS JUST LEADING THE EFFORT IN MAKING SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS ACCESS TO ONE ALMOST ENTIRELY. I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FEAT ON ITS OWN TO BE ABLE TO SHARE. ONE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE LIBRARIES IN DISTRICT 6, OF COURSE POTRANCO IS THE NEWER ONE AND I'M HAPPY TO LIVE DOWN THE STREET FROM IT. BUT FOR THE OTHERS TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF OUR DISTRICT AND TO BE ALMOST IF NOT EXACTLY AS OLD AS I AM, SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT NOT JUST ABOUT THE FACT THAT I'M YOUNG, BUT MORE SO ABOUT HOW OUR DISTRICT HAS GROWN AND [00:35:01] THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT OUR CITY HAS PROVIDED FOR THE PAST 25-PLUS YEARS TO THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE AREA AND ACROSS THE CITY. IT'S ALWAYS INCREDIBLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT ALONG WITH THE SCHOOLS THAT WERE GROWING AT THE SAME TIME TOO. SEEING THAT THE GROWTH IS THERE, WE MADE A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO KNOW THERE'S A LIBRARY THERE FOR KIDS TO ENJOY, FAMILIES TO ENJOY, AND FOR OUR SENIORS TOO TO ENJOY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. IT'S SO NICE -- I'M SO EXCITED TO CELEBRATE ALONG WITH YOU ALL. YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB LEADING THE TEAM. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL THAT YOU DO TO LEAD THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES. I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO OUR APPOINTEE. WE ALSO HAVE OTHERS WHO ARE PART OF THE LIBRARY TEAM SO IT'S SO NICE TO SEE AND CELEBRATE ALL OF YOU ALL TOGETHER, BUT ALSO TOO, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO. I THINK YOU'RE HEARING IT FROM MOST OF US, FROM ALL OF US THAT OUR LIBRARY IS ONE OF OUR CORE SERVICES AND OUR RESIDENTS DEPEND ON IT NOT ONLY FOR LEARNING, BUT FOR WI-FI, FOR TAKING THEIR EDUCATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL. IT JUST PROVIDES SO MUCH TO OUR CITY SO THANK YOU FOR THE TIRELESS WORK Y'ALL DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT. I KNOW FOR ME AND MY LITTLE GIRLS, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY IN THE LIBRARIES BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGS ARE. SO IT'S AWESOME THAT THEY GET TO GROW UP IN AND OUT. WE MAY HAVE ONE OR TWO OUTSTANDING BOOKS, BUT WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT. TAPPING Y'ALL SO MUCH BECAUSE IT IS A TRUE ACT OF SERVICE AND IT'S SO TEENINGFUL TO SO MANY IN OUR CITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. WE'VE GOT IGO LIBRARY AND 8, SO I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE BRANCH MANAGERS AT EYE GO LIBRARY AND THERESA AT CODY LIBRARY. WE VOTE THERE, THAT'S A BABY-SITTING AREA FOR FOLKS FROM LIKE 3:00 TO 5:00. I JUST PICKED UP A BOOK AT CODY LIBRARY A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO FOR A LAST-MINUTE BOOK REPORT THAT MY SON HAD THAT I JUST LEARNED ABOUT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING FOR OUR RESIDENTS. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE THEIR LIBRARY IS IN SAN ANTONIO. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS MAKING THE LIBRARY FEEL SO WELCOMING AND OPEN TO ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: I'M GOING TO SAY A LOT OF WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT SHOUT-OUT TOBERT FOR BEING HERE, APPOINTEE FROM DISTRICT 9. Y'ALL HAVE SAVED ME SEVERAL TIMES. IT'S LIKE 9:00 AT NIGHT AND WE'RE GETTING THE BOOK REPORT DONE. GRATEFUL FOR YOUR DIGITAL LIBRARY. AND ALSO WE HAVE SEVERAL IN OURS. ARE WE THE ONLY DRIVE-THROUGH? YEAH. THAT'S SUPER COOL. WE HAVE A DRIVE-THROUGH AT THE ENCINO LIBRARY. YOU GO ONLINE, RESERVE YOUR BOOK AND DRIVE THROUGH AND PICK IT UP. AND SO I JUST LOVE THE LIBRARY. WHEN MY KIDS WERE LITTLE WE WOULD GO ALL THE TIME BECAUSE IT'S AIR CONDITIONED AND WE COULD SIT IN THERE AND I COULD RELAX AND THEY COULD GO CRAZY, READ ALL THE BOOKS. WE STILL GO BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MEET THEIR READING LOG MEASUREMENTS FOR SCHOOL. THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE AND THE VOTING LOCATIONS, THAT'S WHERE EVERYONE KNOWS TO GO TO VOTE. I GREW UP GOING TO THE BROOKE HOLLOW LIBRARY, BUT NOW WE GO TO THE ENCINO A LOT. AND PARMAN IS GREAT AS WELL. THE SELECTION IS EXCELLENT. AGAIN, JUST THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU'RE DOING AND THE WAY YOU'RE POURING INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE SENIORS AND KEEPING THEM SHARP TOO. AND WE'RE JUST GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING THAT Y'ALL DO. I KNOW IT'S A LOT AND IT'S -- YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE QUIET. TODAY YOU DON'T, YOU CAN BE LOUD ABOUT IT. THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO. IN A STATE WHERE LITERACY IS A CRISIS AND OUR STATE LEADERS WOULD RATHER -- RATHER THAN BOLSTER SUPPORT FOR LIBRARIES AND FOR EDUCATORS, THEY INSTEAD BAN BOOKS AND THE DRAG QUEENS WHO READ THEM. IT IS A BREATH OF RELIEF AND FRESH AIR THAT YOU ALL SERVE AS CONDUITS AND STEWARDS OF ACCESS TO EDUCATION INFORMATION. I'M GRATEFUL FOR EACH AND EVERY EMPLOYEE AND VOLUNTEER WITH THE LIBRARY. YOU'RE GIFTS TO OUR CITY AND WE ADORE YOU. MY DISTRICT IS -- WE HAVE MOLLY PRUETT, LIBRARY, CARVER LIBRARY, AND MY DISTRICT IS EXTREMELY EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPANSION OF THE CARVER LIBRARY, THEY WOULD LOVE FOR IT TO BE DONE NEXT MONTH AND WE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT'S NOT HOW THAT WORKS. WE FEATURED THE CARVER LIBRARY DESIGN AS THE CENTER FOLD IN OUR NEWSLETTER THIS PAST MONTH AND WE'VE GOTTEN CALLS AND PEOPLE ARE ANXIOUS [00:40:02] WITH ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT AND LOOKING FORWARD TO A PHASE 2 ALREADY. BUT I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY THAT I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT AS PART OF THIS NEXT BOND THAT WE HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE LIBRARIES AS MAJOR PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY ARE IN NEED OF LOVE, THEY ARE IN NEED OF SUPPORT, THEY'RE IN NEED OF RENOVATION. MANY OF THEM, MANY, MANY, MANY OF THEM. I WILL BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOU ALL AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THOSE LISTS AND SEEING THOSE NEEDS THAT Y'ALL HAVE AND HOPEFULLY FULFILLING AS MANY OF THEM AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE AGAIN, OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS AND DESERVES THEM. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. COUNCILWOMAN'S COMMENTS ON THE DRIVE-THROUGH MADE ME ALSO THINK ABOUT THE ONE LIBRARY THAT I'VE SEEN IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT HAS STATIONARY BIKES IN IT. I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF THAT ONE, BUT -- ENCINO, THANK YOU. BUT IT DID HIGHLIGHT AS COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ NOTED THE WAYS IN WHICH WE HAVE TO BRING AN EQUITY LENS TO THESE LIBRARIES. I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY LIBRARY, RIGHT, THAT HAS THE STATIONARY PARKS AND THE DRIVE-THROUGH. THAT'S NOT AT THE PARK AND RIDE IS IT, COUNCILWOMAN? IT'S ACROSS THE STREET? ALREADY. WE'RE WORKING ON THESE THINGS. BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO. AND PLEASE AS WE ARE HAVING NOT ONLY OUR BUDGETARY DISCUSSIONS BUT AS MENTIONED THE LONGER TERM ONES ABOUT THE BOND, WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HEAR FROM EACH OF YOU ABOUT HOW WE CAN BEST SUPPORT THE VERY IMPORTANT WORK YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] OKAY. IN OUR FINAL PROCLAMATION IS REGARDING SECOND CHANCE MONTH. I'LL READ A PROCLAMATION. IF THOSE THAT ARE HERE WITH THAT GROUP WOULD LIKE TO COME FORWARD, THANK YOU. WHEREAS THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RECOGNIZES THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DIGNITY AND RESPECT AND AFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING AND SECOND CHANCES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DETAINED, JAILED OR IMPRISONED. AND WHEREAS AND COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES AS THEY WORK TO REINTEGRATE INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS NEARLY ONE IN THREE AMERICAN ADULTS HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD, LIMITING ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND OTHER RESOURCES NEEDED TO BUILD A STABLE FUTURE. AND WHEREAS ALICE ASSET LIMITED INCOME CONSTRAINT WHILE EMPLOYED, SOME OF THE WORKING POOR, RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS THE DIFFICULTY THAT MANY WORKING HOUSEHOLDS FACE TO MEET BASIC NEEDS AND IN SAN ANTONIO POVERTY AND LIMITED ACCESS TO FAIR CHANCE HIRING CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CYCLES OF RECIDIVISM WHILE EMPLOYMENT, BASIC NEEDS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT ARE PROVEN TO REDUCE REOFFENDING. WHEREAS DESIGNATING APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH RAISES AWARENESS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, ONE, DESIGNATES APRIL 2026 AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH. AND SECONDLY HONORS THE EFFORTS OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, EMPLOYERS AND INDIVIDUALS WORKING TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY BARRIERS. AND THIRDLY, CALLS UPON THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO TO OBSERVE SECOND CHANCE MONTH THROUGH ACTIONS AND PROGRAMS THAT RAISE AWARENESS OF THESE BARRIERS AND SUPPORT SUCCESSFUL REENTRY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS. NOW THEREFORE I, GINA ORTIZ JONES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, IN RECOGNITION THEREOF, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM APRIL 16TH, 2026, TO BE SECOND CHANCE MONTH IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. YOU'RE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU EVERYONE. I WANT TO THANK AMANDA WITH UNITY RECOVERY FOR REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE AND BRINGING SECOND CHANCE APRIL TO OUR ATTENTION. WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE FIRST EVER SECOND CHANCE APRIL IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE REENTRY PROGRAM MANAGER IDA AS WELL AS [INDISCERNIBLE]. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT NINO WHO IS HERE FOR SHOWING US WHAT SECOND CHANCE TRAINING CAN LOOK LIKE AS WELL AS THE LEADERSHIP OF LESSKY CANTU FOR PROVIDING A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO TRAINING AND HIRING OUR FORMERLY INCARCERATED. GREAT TO SEE ADRIAN OF TEXAS WORKFORCE HERE AS WELL. THIS MODEL WAS THE WORK OF MANY INDIVIDUALS HERE WAS THE CASE STUDY THAT OUR TEAM BASED OUR SECOND CHANCE HIRING INCENTIVE COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST ON. I WANT SO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU ALL FOR YOUR WORK AS WELL AS THE WORK OF GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ALL OF US OR NONE, AND BIG HOME MY STREET MINISTRY, FORMERLY INCARCERATED ON THEIR RIGHTS AND CONNECTING THEM TO RESOURCES AND COMMUNITIES THAT ACCEPT THEM. I'DLESS LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK OF TOMMY ACROSS TO WHO LED BIG HOMIES AND SERVE AS A A DIRECTOR OF METRO HEALTH WHO PASSED NOT TOO [00:45:05] LONG AGO. HE STARTED BIG HOMIES AND HE DEDICATED HIS LIFE FOR THE JUSTICE IMPACTED COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS LIVED EXPERIENCE. I HAD THE HONOR OF VOLUNTEERING WITH BIG HOMIES PRIOR TO BEING ELECTED AND WE HELPED THOSE WHO WERE INCARCERATED AND THEIR LOVED ONES. I WANT TO THANK EACH OF YOU FOR NOT ONLY BEING PRESENT TODAY, BUT SO MUCH YOU DO FOR THE JUSTICE IMPACTED COMMUNITY. SAN ANTONIO HAS APPROXIMATELY 60% JUSTICE IMPACTED POPULATION AND IT'S ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD THE NECESSARY SAFETY NETS OF BASIC NEEDS TO PREVENT MORE PEOPLE FROM BECOMING JUST IMPACTED AND TO FULLY SUPPORT THOSE REINTEGRATING INTO OUR COMMUNITIES BY OFFERING THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND DIGNIFIED LIVING WAGE JOBS. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND ONWARD TO BUILDING A STRONG AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY. BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT, I SEE A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE CROWD THAT SIT ON A LOT OF GREAT BOARDS AND MAKE A LOT OF GREAT IMPACT. I ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WORK AND REACH OUT TO THE BEXAR COUNTY REENTRY CENTER TO HELP CONNECT THOSE WHO ARE BEING RELEASED. IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THERE ARE ROUGHLY 40,000 INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE RELEASED FROM THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, LOOKING TO COURSE CORRECT AND LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES. SO I ENCOURAGE THAT YOU GO BACK TO YOUR BOARD AND TALK ABOUT CONNECTING WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY REENTRY CENTER. BUT WITH THAT I'LL HAND IT OVER TO AMANDA AND WE'LL WORK OUR WAY THROUGH THE INDIVIDUALS PRESENT TODAY. >> THANK YOU AND GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCIL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY. IT TRULY MEANS A LOT TO NOT JUST ME, BUT TO SO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE WORKING EVERYDAY TO REBUILD THEIR LIVES AFTER INCARCERATION. AS SOMEONE WHO IS PERSONALLY NAVIGATED REENTRY IN THIS CITY, I CAN SAY THIS RECOGNITION IS NOT JUST SYMBOLIC, BUT IT IS DEEPLY MEANINGFUL. SECOND CHANCE MONTH IS ABOUT SOMETHING SIMPLE, BUT POWERFUL. THE BELIEF THAT PEOPLE CAN CHANGE AND THAT OUR COMMUNITIES ARE STRONGER WHEN WE GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO. FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS REENTRY ISN'T JUST ABOUT COMING HOME, IT'S ABOUT NAVIGATING BARRIERS TO HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT, OFTEN ALL AT THE SAME TIME. AND WHAT MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS ACCESS TO COMMUNITY. PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THEM, SPACES WHERE THEY ARE TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESOURCES THAT HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD. AT UNITY RECOVERY WHERE WE PROVIDE FREE PEER SUPPORT SERVICES, WE SEE EVERYDAY WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE SUPPORTS ARE IN PLACE. PEOPLE DON'T JUST SURVIVE, THEY BEGIN TO THRIVE. THIS RECOGNITION MATTERS BECAUSE IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT SAN ANTONIO BELIEVES IN SECOND CHANCES. AND THAT WE ARE WILLING TO STAND BEHIND PEOPLE AS THEY REBUILD THEIR LIVES. BUT FOR MANY A SECOND CHANCE STILL DEPENDS ON WHETHER THE SYSTEM ALLOWS IT. SO WHILE TODAY IS A CELEBRATION, IT IS ALSO A CALL TO ACTION. TO CONTINUE BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS THAT MAKE REENTRY HARDER THAN IT NEEDS TO BE AND TO ENSURE THAT SECOND CHANCES ARE NOT THE EXCEPTION, BUT THE EXPECTATION. BECAUSE WHEN WE GET THIS RIGHT, IT DOESN'T JUST CHANGE INDIVIDUAL LIVES, IT STRENGTHENS OUR FAMILIES, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CITY AS A WHOLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND FOR MAKING THIS MOMENT POSSIBLE. >> CASTILLO: MS. BARRIENTAS. >> HELLO. I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY. IT'S TRULY AN HONOR TO BE STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS. I WANT TO SAY YESTERDAY WE THREW THE SECOND ANNUAL BEXAR COUNTY SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR. WE HAD OVER 800 JOB SEEKERS SHOW UP LOOKING FOR JOBS THERE AND CLOSE TO 60 EMPLOYERS. ABOUT 30 RESOURCES AS WELL. ONE OF THE RESOURCES STANDING BEHIND ME, UNITY, AS WELL AS THE BUSINESSES, LESSRY CANTU HERE FOR TOYOTA, THEY ARE A NATIONAL GOLD STAR STANDARD FOR WHAT SECOND CHANCE HIRING LOOKS LIKE AND HOW WE CAN IMPLEMENT THAT FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I JUST WANT TO SAY THERE'S A LOT OF TALENT OUT THERE. PINGING OFF OF WHAT CASTILLO SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE NEEDING WORK AND NOT A LOT OF EMPLOYERS THAT ARE OPENING THE DOORS FOR THEM. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE REENTRY CENTER IS HERE TO SAY IF WE HAVE EMPLOYERS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WILLING TO OPEN THEIR DOORS TO THOSE WHO ARE JUST IMPACTED THAT'S WHAT THE REENTRY CENTER IS DOING CURRENTLY. WE'RE TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP BETWEEN TALENT AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. SO IF THERE'S ANY EMPLOYERS IN THE COMMUNITY, PLEASE COME TO THE REENTRY CENTER SO WE CAN BRIDGE THAT GAP FOR THEM. THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: LESLIE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE ANYTHING TO ADD? >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY. IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. TOYOTA IS COMMITTED TO BEING COMMITTED AND ENGAGED EMPLOYER IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE'RE ALL ABOUT PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEANINGFUL CAREERS, AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR OUR [00:50:04] JUSTICE-IMPACTED POPULATION. WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS SPACE SINCE ABOUT 2018 AND HAVE HIRED OVER 300 JUST-IMPACTED INDIVIDUALS SINCE THEN. AND WE FEEL LIKE WE'VE CREATED A NATIONAL BEST MODEL THAT HAS WORKED AND WE CONTINUE TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION. SO WE ARE HAPPY TO BE A RESOURCE TO OUR COMMUNITY, TO OTHER EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LOOKING TO GET INTO THE SPACE AND JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT IN THE EFFORTS THAT -- TO HELP INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR MEANINGFUL WORK. THANK YOU. >> CASTILLO: NINO AND ADRIAN, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? WONDERFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S ADVOCACY AND ALL THE WORK THAT Y'ALL DO. AGAIN, THIS IS A CALL TO ACTION TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS TO CONNECT WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY REENTRY CENTER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU, CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION AND THAT CALL TO ACTION FOR ALL THE EMPLOYERS. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO. AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR UPLIFTING A VERY MUCH-NEEDED CONVERSATION. AND IT REALLY IS ABOUT SECOND CHANCES, OF COURSE, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO WHO GETS ARRESTED AND JAILED AND HAS THEIR LIFE RUINED VERSUS WHO GETS ARRESTED AND RESUMES BUSINESS THE NEXT DAY. AND HOW ARE WE AS A CITY UPHOLDING SYSTEMS THAT PREVENT SECOND CHANCES FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST. WOULD YOU MIND READING YOUR SHIRT FOR ME REAL QUICK. MY GLASSES DID NOT GO WITH MY OUTFIT TODAY. >> IT SAYS TREATMENT NOT PRISONS, RECOVERY NOT PRISONS. PROGRESS NOT PRISONS. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: PERFECT. SO WHEN YOU INVEST IN TREATMENT, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, RECOVERY AND PROGRESS, YOU DON'T NEED THE PRISONS. AND WHEN WE -- WE CAN EITHER --E BIT MORE DIRECT IN WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE CAN EITHER CREATE A POLICE STATE WHERE WE JAIL EVERYONE FOR EVERY LITTLE THING THAT WE DO. WE SURVEY THEM AND WE LOOK FOR -- WE LOOK OUT FOR EVERYBODY WHO IS DOING SOMETHING BAD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WE LOCK THEM AWAY, OR WE CAN CREATE A COMMUNITY WHERE EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO TREATMENT, HOUSING, HEALTH CARE, TRANSPORTATION, WORKFORCE. ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE OUR CITY GREAT AND VIBRANT. IF WE INVEST IN THOSE THINGS, WE WON'T NEED THE PRISONS, WE WON'T NEED THE JAIL, WE DON'T NEED TO INVEST IN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MORE OFFICERS EVERY OTHER MONTH. SO I WOULD ISSUE THAT CALL TO ACTION AS WELL. WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTS, HOW DO WE PREVENT CUTTING THE THINGS THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS THE MOST, WHICH ARE TREATMENT, HOUSING, ALL THE THINGS THAT I'VE LISTED. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT. THANK YOU FOR THE CALL TO ACTION. AND THAT'S MY CALL TO ACTION TO MY COLLEAGUES AS WE BEGIN OUR BUDGET DISCUSSIONS NEXT MONTH. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. AND I'M GOING TO TRY NOT TO GET TOO EMOTIONAL, BUT DISTRICT 3, THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH DISTRICT 3, YOU KNOW THE ENVIRONMENT. AND YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE A FAMILY, WHICH MY FAMILY DID, MY DAD'S FAMILY DID HAVE OVER 10 KIDS. ONE IS JUST JUSTICE INVOLVED. AND TO THINK ABOUT MY UNCLE WHO WHEN HE CAME OUT DIDN'T HAVE ANY HOPE. HE THOUGHT THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE FOR HIM WAS TO GO BACK TO THE LIFESTYLE THAT HE HAD AND THAT WAS -- HE'S MY UNCLE SO HE WAS A LOT OLDER. HE PASSED, BUT THAT WAS HIS LIFE. SO WHEN I'M IN THE COMMUNITY NOW THAT I REPRESENT, THAT HE GREW UP AND I GREW UP IN, AND I KNOW THAT THEY CAN START AT A PIZZA HUT AND THEY'RE HUSTLING THERE AND I CAN TELL THEM, HEY, HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT READY TO WORK OR ALAMO WORKFORCE? AND THEY -- AND I KNOW THAT 'EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PROBABLY JUST AS INVOLVED, THEY'RE GOING TO GET A SHOT THERE. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE TOLD NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. WHEN I GO TO TACO CABANA AND I KNOW THE PEOPLE WORKING THE DRIVE-THROUGH WERE JUSTICE-INVOLVED AND I THINK TO MYSELF THIS IS JUST THEIR START. WHAT'S NEXT FOR THEM. WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT'S GOING TO MAKE THEIR LIFE BETTER. AND SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY, THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. WHAT WE'RE DOING IS REALLY MEETING A NEED THAT IS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I AM SEEING THE RESULTS. MY UNCLE WENT BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH FROM JAIL TO PRISON BECAUSE WHEN HE GOT OUT THERE WAS NOTHING FOR HIM. AND THIS WAS A DECORATED VIETNAM VETERAN. SO -- BUT ONCE YOU'RE IN THE SYSTEM I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GET OUT AND YOU GUYS ARE HERE LIVING TESTIMONY THAT THERE IS HOPE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANK YOU FOR SERVING MY COMMUNITY, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING THIS DAY NEXT YEAR ALSO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR [00:55:02] AND THANK YOU TO CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. AS CHAIR OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY LOOKS LIKE AND WE CAN'T FOCUS ON JUST ONE ISSUE, BUT IT HAS TO BE A HOLISTIC ISSUE. THE THIRD PART OF ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH ON WITH VIOLENT CRIME RIGHT IN AND OUT IS HOW DO WE PROVIDE SUPPORTS FOR THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS DOING WORK IN THE AREAS TO HELP PROVIDE WHAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS NEED. AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S THE ONE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DRAGGING OUR FEET ON THE MOST SO IT'S THE ONE THAT I HOPE DURING THIS BUDGET SESSION WE CAN TRULY PUT SOME DOLLARS BEHIND AND PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS AND WHAT WE ALL AWE TALK ABOUT IS IMPORTANT. BUT THE SECOND THING I ASKED FOR A SHIRT AND I WAS SO GRACIOUSLY OFFERED ONE AND I WOULD LIKE TO ADD ON TO THE BACK OF MINE THAT EDUCATION, NOT PRISONS AS WELL. AND AS I KNOW COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN IS THE CHAIR OF THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES COMMITTEE, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WE KNOW IS WHEN WE CAN TRULY PROVIDE THAT COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AT A YOUNG AGE WE CAN PREVENT A LOT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING FOR FAMILIES. SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T END UP HAVING TO GO IN IN THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO. THE LAST THING I'LL SAY IS ALSO IT'S REALLY HARD WHEN WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES, JUST OUR RESIDENTS THAT ARE SO OPPOSED TO LIVING NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INCARCERATED, TO WORKING WITH SOMEONE. I THINK WE STILL HAVE MORE TO DO AS A COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO TRULY BUILD THAT COMPASSIONATE SAN ANTONIO THAT WE TALK ABOUT BECAUSE UNTIL WE CAN ALL SEE COMPASSION FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE EVERY SINGLE EMPLOYER IN SAN ANTONIO ACCEPT SECOND CHANCES, AND THAT WOULD BE AN IDEAL GOAL I THINK IF WE GOT THERE. SO THANK YOU AGAIN. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY AND WORK. THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO FOR NOT JUST BRINGING THIS UP ON THE SPECIAL DAY, BUT SHE REALLY DOES BRING THIS UP OFTEN IN CANDID CAN CONVERSATIONS WHERE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT. I APPRECIATE WHAT EVERYONE SAID, THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER FOR SHARING YOUR STORY. I ALSO HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT RELATIVES WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH THE SYSTEM, RIGHT, AND THEM BEING ABLE TO GET A JOB AFTER THAT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS STORY FOR THEM. AND SO I THINK WE HAVE TO ENSURE PEOPLE GET TO WORKMENT PEOPLE WANT TO HAVE A JOB, THEY WANT TO HAVE A FAMILY AND GROW, AND SO I THINK AS SOON AS SOMEONE GETS OUT OF THE SYSTEM THERE SHOULD BE A CASE WORKER RIGHT THERE SAYING WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO WORK, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO LIVE? HERE'S HOW WE CAN HELP YOU, HERE'S HOW WE CAN GET YOU ON YOUR FEET BECAUSE THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO. WE SEND FOLKS TO JAIL AND THEN SAY HEY, AFTER THAT YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN. YOU KNOW, WE SEE WHAT THAT IS WITH THE RATE OF RECIDIVISM AND WHAT HAPPENS IN OUR SOCIETY. SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY A TRUE WAY TO DO IT. AND ELSE ALSO TAKE A SHIRT IF YOU HAVE ANY EXTRAS. THANK YOU. >> I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY TO ACCELERATE OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO FOR BRINGING THIS TO TODAY'S A SESSION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS -- STRIKES AT MY HEART VERY DEEPLY. A LOT OF FOLKS IN MY LIFE AS WELL WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. IT'S NOT ALWAYS RIGHT IN TERMS OF REENTRY TOO, LOOKING AT GETTING BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE, THAT'S SOMETIMES WHAT THE CONVERSATION HAS TO BE AROUND OR IS THE GOAL. BUT THERE ARE FOLKS STRUGGLING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES ON THEIR BACK END THAT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AND CAN'T SEE THAT MAKES IT HARD FOR THEM TO RETURN TO THE WORKFORCE, BUT THEY ARE JUST AS DESERVING FOR THAT TREATMENT AND CARE AND SUPPORT SYSTEM THEY AUSTIN DON'T HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT'S BEEN LIKE FOR A LOT OF PHONES IN MY LIFE WHO WOULD TRY THEIR BEST, BUT BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES THERE'S SOMETHING THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT ON. AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO BE IN THE SAME KIND OF POSITION THAT MAYBE EVERYONE WANTS THEM TO BE, BUT BEING OUT OF THAT SYSTEM AND BEING IN A SYSTEM OF SUPPORT IS GOING TO GET THEM TO LIVE HEALTHY AND FAITHFUL LIVES. SO THANK YOU FOR THE WORK YOU DO EVERY SINGLE DAY. I'M ALSO VERY PROUD OF COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO'S INITIATIVE FOR STARTING OFF THE MENTAL HEALTH DIVERSION CENTER HERE IN BEXAR COUNTY. ANOTHER STEP TO ADDRESSING THE LARGER SYSTEMIC ISSUE HERE. AND A TRUE START OF THOSE EFFORTS. OF COURSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORTS IN OUR CITY TO DO THIS, BUT THIS IS THE ONE BIG WAY THAT I'M VERY EXCITED TO BEGIN THIS CONVERSATION IN A BIT MORE DEEPER WAY. WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS ISSUE I ALSO THINK ABOUT THE FOLKS THAT IT'S IMPACTING THE MOST OR A SIGNIFICANT DEMOGRAPHIC IN THIS FIELD. PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE ME: YOUNG, BROWN MEN. WHO OFTEN DON'T GET THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT EVERYONE ELSE GETS OR MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE FULL SUPPORT SYSTEM TO GET THERE. AND THEY BECOME JUST INVOLVED IN SOME WAY BUT SHOULD REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL TOO. IF THEY'RE INCARCERATED OR ON THE PATHWAY TOO, THERE IS INTERVENTION AND CARE TOO. SO I LOVE THE SHIRTS, OF COURSE, AND IT REMINDS ME OF OTHER SLOGANS I'VE HEARD ACROSS THE CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ABOUT HOW THESE [01:00:01] INITIATIVES ARE KEY PARTS NOT JUST IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BUT SOCIETAL PROGRESS TOO AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS HERE IN OUR CITY, IN OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK OF THESE BIG THREE: EDUCATION, NOT INCARCERATION, TREATMENT, NOT TRAUMA, PROCESS, NOT PRISONS. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I ALSO DO WANT TO THANK MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO, BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE IS CONSTANTLY PUSHING NOT NOT JUST RAISING AWARENESS FOR TODAY, FOR THIS MONTH, BUT SHE'S DISTANTLY REMINDING US OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS, OF THE IMPORTANCE THAT WE HAVE -- THAT YOU ALL HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF US, YOU KNOW, HAVING ACTION AROUND THIS. SO AMANDA AND [INDISCERNIBLE], THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. LESLIE WITH TOYOTA, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING AN EXAMPLE. YOU KNOW, OF TOYOTA AND THEIR HIRING PRACTICES. I THINK THAT WE NEED THAT -- SOMETIMES WE NEED THAT FIRST EXAMPLE SO THAT OTHER CORPORATIONS, BIG CORPORATIONS, BIG AND SMALL BUSINESSES, CAN FOLLOW. SO REALLY APPRECIATE YOU ALL AND TOYOTA'S LEADERSHIP IN THAT. AND YEAH, I THINK -- YOU KNOW, I THINK SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID THAT WE NEED TO TAKE YOU ON THE CALL TO ACTION AND WORK WITH EACH OF OUR DISTRICT'S BUSINESSES BOTH BIG AND SMALL ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND KIND OF TACKLE IT TOGETHER. AND I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT MY COLLEAGUE, COUNCILWOMAN VIAGRAN MENTIONED ABOUT THIS IS JUST THE START. AND GETTING TO THAT START IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND IT'S INCUMBENT UPON ALL OF US TO DO. AND I ALSO HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO THE SHIRTS BECAUSE IT'S JUST SO CLEAR. WHOEVER DESIGNED Y'ALL'S SHIRTS, I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE IT IS VERY CLEAR WHAT THE MISSION IS. AND OF COURSE WE CAN ALL DO THAT TOGETHER. SO THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU. I WANTED TO QUICKLY THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL THE WORK YOU'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THANK YOU TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO, MY COLLEAGUE. SHE IS A FIERCE ADVOCATE. YOU HAVE A FIERCE ADVOCATE IN YOUR CORNER. I THINK YOU HEARD THE SUPPORT HERE ON THE DAIS, BUT REALLY YOU HAVE SOMEONE THAT WHEN I THINK ABOUT SECOND CHANCE HIRING I THINK OF TERI BECAUSE SHE IS ALWAYS, ALWAYS PUSHING THIS ISSUE. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR -- I SEE ADRIAN WITH ALAMO WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS AND WE JUST HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH READY TO WORK AND PRE-K 4 SA. SO THIS IS AN ECOSYSTEM THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT YESTERDAY. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND TO COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> SPEARS: I'M GOING TO ECHO WHAT A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. BUT YES, COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO IS A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR SECOND CHANCES AND IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT IT. SO WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP IN THIS SPACE. YOU KNOW, CONSEQUENCES ARE IMPORTANT AND RECIDIVISM IS A GRIM REALITY, BUT A SECOND CHANCE BRINGS HOPEFULNESS AND BELONGING. AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT -- IT IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, IMPORTANT FOR THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE PRISON SYSTEM, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE FAMILIES AND THEIR LOVED ONES THAT THEY FEEL SUPPORTED, AND MOST OF ALL TO THOSE WHO NEED THAT SECOND CHANCE. AND WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE TREATMENT, I'M SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THE DIVERSION CENTER. I THINK THERE'S A LOT THERE THAT WE CAN DO. THE PEER SUPPORT, NUMBER ONE THING WE CAN DO IS PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT. AND JOBS. SO ADRIAN, YES, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BUT JOBS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T UNDERESTIMATE THE FEELING OF HOPEFULNESS FOR YOUR LIFE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND IT IS THE HOLISTIC APPROACH. YOU KNOW, WE NEED OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE FULLY SUPPORT THEM, BUT WE NEED TO DO THIS TOO. THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'RE DOING. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. OKAY. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF POINTS OF PRIVILEGE. I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZÁLEZ. >> GONZÁLEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME BACK SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE TO RECOGNIZE APRIL AS DONATE LIFE MONTH. THE DISTRICT 8 OFFICE IS PROUD TO HELP COORDINATE WITH CITY STAFF TO ILLUMINATE CITY HALL IN BLUE AND GREEN, JOINING LANDMARKS ACROSS SAN ANTONIO TO HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THE GIFT OF LIFE THROUGH ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONATION. THIS EFFORT REFLECTS OUR ONGOING COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY AND ADVANCING INITIATIVES THAT IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR OUR RESIDENTS. EVERYDAY PATIENTS IN OUR MEDICAL CENTER AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE WAITING FOR A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE, BY [01:05:01] RAISING AWARENESS AND ENCOURAGING DONOR REGISTRATION, WE ARE ADVOCATING FOR A STRONGER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITY. I'D LIKE TO GIVE JAMES MURPHY A MOMENT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE ORGANIZATION. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS JAMES MURPHY AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THE SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE WHERE I OVERSEE HOSPITAL DEVELOPMENT, PARTNER RELATIONS, AS WELL AS TISSUE RECOVERY FOR DONORS WHO HAVE MADE THE SELFLESS DECISION TO GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE. BEFORE THIS I SPENT ROUGHLY 10 YEARS IN THE U.S. ARMY. IN THE MILITARY YOU LEARN VERY QUICKLY THAT SERVICE IS ABOUT SOMETHING GREATER THAN YOURSELF. IT'S ABOUT SACRIFICE, COMMITMENT, AND TAKING CARE OF OTHERS NO MATTER THE COST. WHAT I DIDN'T FULLY REALIZE AT THAT TIME IS THAT THOSE SAME VALUES WOULD CARRY OVER INTO THE WORK THAT I DO TODAY. EVERY DONOR WE ENCOUNTER REPRESENTS THE ULTIMATE ACT OF SACRIFICE. IN THEIR FINAL MOMENTS THEY GIVE OTHERS A SECOND CHANCE, RESTORING SIGHT, HEALING INJURIES AND IMPROVING LIVES IN WAYS MOST OF US WILL NEVER SEE FIRSTHAND. IN MANY WAYS THEY ARE HEROES. DONATE LIFE MONTH IS A REMINDER THAT WE ALL HAVE THE ABILITY TO SERVE, EVEN AFTER WE'RE GONE. ONE DECISION CAN IMPACT DOZENS OF LIVES, FAMILIES AND FUTURES. MY TIME IN THE ARMY TAUGHT ME TO SERVE WITH PURPOSE. THIS WORK HAS SHOWN ME WHAT THAT PURPOSE TRULY MEANS. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE HERE TODAY, HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH YOUR FAMILY, REGISTER AS A DONOR AND CONSIDER THE LEGACY YOU WANT TO LEAVE BEHIND. BECAUSE THE GREATEST GIFT ANY OF US CAN GIVE IS A CHANCE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO LIVE. >> MAYOR JONES: I'LL RECOGNIZE COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE AS WELL. I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T REALIZE YOU HAD ANOTHER SPEAKER. PLEASE GO AHEAD. >> GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY. MY NAME IS EMMANUEL AND I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AND SERVING AS BIO RIDGE GLOBAL AND SOUTH BLOOD AND TISSUE. DONATE LIFE MONTH IS DEEPLY PERSONAL TO ME. MY DAD WAS A CARING AND LOVING MAN. HE MADE THE BRAVE DECISION TO IMMIGRATE US FROM MEXICO AND TO JOIN THE SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY. HE PUSHED ME TO GO TO SCHOOL, TO WORK HARD, TO LOVE THIS COMMUNITY, AND TO ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GIVE TO OTHERS WHEN THEY'RE IN NEED. HE TAUGHT ME TO PLAY THE GUITAR, PLAYED SOCCER WITH ME AND MY BROTHER, AND WAS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF A GOOD HUSBAND AND A GOOD DAD. AND IN 2018 MY FATHER PASSED AWAY AND IN THAT MOMENT HE BECAME A TISSUE DONOR. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN ONLY GRIEF BECAME SOMETHING MORE. HIS GIFT BECAME A CONTINUATION OF LIFE FOR OTHERS. AND THAT PERSPECTIVE HAS SHAPED ME NOT ONLY WHO I AM, BUT THE WORK THAT I GET TO BE A PART OF EVERYDAY. THROUGH SOUTH TEXAS BLOOD AND TISSUE WE ARE CONNECTED TO OVER 400 FAMILIES EVERY YEAR. FAMILIES WHO IN THEIR MOST DIFFICULT MOMENT MAKE THE COURAGEOUS DECISION TO GIVE TO OTHERS, AND IT'S A MISSION THAT WE DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT, BUT WE CARRY WITH US EVERY SINGLE DAY. WE HONOR OUR FAMILIES AND TISSUE DONORS IN MANY WAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH PROGRAMMING AND WE PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS WHERE WE HONOR OUR FAMILIES AND THE TISSUE DONORS. I'VE EVEN HAD THE HONOR OF PLAYING THE GUITAR AT SOME OF THESE EVENTS AND WATCHING FAMILIES COME TOGETHER NOT JUST IN GRIEF, BUT CELEBRATION. AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN THIS, DONATION IS NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT IS LOST, BUT IT'S ABOUT A CONTINUATION. IT'S ABOUT THE LIVES HEALED, THE HOPES RESTORED, AND THE INVISIBLE THREADS THAT CONNECTED US ALL THROUGH ACTS OF GENEROSITY. SO TODAY AS WE RECOGNIZE DONATE LIFE MONTH, I ASK THAT WE ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT, TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH OUR FAMILIES AND TO CONSIDER THE IMPACT THAT WE CAN HAVE BECAUSE ONE DECISION AND ONE ACT CAN CARRY A LEGACY FAR BEYOND OURSELVES. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED FOR A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. FOR THE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, COULD YOU PLEASE COME UP TO THE PODIUM? TODAY WE'RE GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME INCREDIBLE DISTRICT STUDENTS. OF COURSE TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF FIESTA AND SO WE HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE DISTRICT 6 STUDENTS FROM BOTH EDGEWOOD FINE ARTS AND NORTH WOOD ISD THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO MAKING FIESTA A BIT MORE COULD COLORFUL THIS YEAR. FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ADRIAN AND HIS FAMILY. ALSO KNOWN AS AJ LEMONADE IT KID IS A COULD HAVE MORE AND WON THE 2026 MEDAL DESIGN [01:10:04] FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. [APPLAUSE]. I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME OF THE SLIDES HERE AS WELL WITH --. I THINK THE NEXT ONE HAS THE HIGH SCHOOL ONE. THERE WE GO, I'M PROUD TO WEAR IT AS WELL. ADRIAN IS PURSUING A CAREER AS A LOCAL ARTIST AND BARBER. HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING THOSE IN NEED AND HELPS TO FEED THE HOMELESS AND RAISING FUNDS FOR GIFTS FOR CHILDREN IN SHELTERS. ONCE HE GETS HIS BARBER'S LICENSE HE SAYS HE CAN DO A SCISSOR CUT FOR FOLKS WITH CURLY HAIR. HE CREDITS HIS PARENTS FOR TEACHING HIM. HE ALSO WANTED ME TO HIGHLIGHT HIS MOTHER WHO IS ALSO HERE WITH PUBLIC WORKS WHO SUPERVISES THE CITY'S POTHOLE PROGRAM AND INSPIRED HIM TO CREATE A BEAUTIFUL FIESTA MEDAL NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT LAST YEAR TOO AND ANYTHING IS ACHIEVABLE WITH DETERMINATION. JACOB TO THE RIGHT OVER HERE IS A FIFTH GRADER AT ROBB ELEMENTARY WHO WON THE GRAND PRIZE OF THE TEXAS CALF LEERS RIVER PARADE COVER CONTEST WHICH WHICH I BELIEVE MANY OF US WILL BE A PART OF AND CAN SEE HIS ART DISPLAYED ON THE BOATS THEMSELVES. HE WAS ASKED BY HIS TEACHER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST. HE PUSHED HIMSELF AND CREATED HIS BEST WORK YET. FUN FACT, HE SPENT OVER 20 HOURS ON THIS WORK ITSELF WHICH IS AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF DILIGENCE AND EFFORT THAT I DON'T THINK I HAD THE PATIENCE FOR AS A FIFTH GRADER. IT'S EXCITE TO GO SEE JACOB DO THIS. HE WANTED TO CAPTURE THIS ARTWORK AND THE HISTORY AND SPIRIT OF FIESTA AND CULTURE IN A WAY THAT FELT ALIVE AND CELEBRATORY. HE INCORPORATED THE MILITARY, THE STATE FLOWER, THE ALAMO AND RIVERWALK ALONG WITH MUSIC, DANCE ERS AND ICONIC MONUMENTS. HE IS A STUDENT WHO IS DRIVEN WITH A WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS. HE ENJOYS STAYING ACTIVE THROUGH RUNNING, BASKETBALL AND KARATE. HE HAS A PASSION FOR EARN LEG. HE LOVES MATH, ESPECIALLY MATH GAMES AND IS INVOLVED IN ROBOTICS AT ROBB ELEMENTARY. OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE JOBS ABOUT JACOB, HE COLLECTS POKEMON CARDS AND HAS BEGUN COMPETING IN TOURNAMENTS WHICH FOR THE RECORD IS A TALL TASK FOR A PERSON LIKE HIMSELF TO COMPETE WITH ADULTS AND I KNOW HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT, NOT THAT I WOULD KNOW PERSONALLY. HE'S ALSO A PART OF THE GT PROGRAM AND HAS WON THIS YEAR'S SPELLING BEE, ELECTED STUDENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND BEING ACCEPTED INTO THE MAGNET SCHOOL. HE WAS INVITED TO SPEAK ON THE ADVISORY BORE BOARD, AN OPPORTUNITY HE IS INCREDIBLY PROUD OF. EAS WELL AS HAVE EVANGELINE IN A. SHE IS A RUNNER UP FOR THE PARADE COVER CONTEST AND SHE HAS SOME ARTWORK TO DISPLAY. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET IT OVER HERE WITH THE OVERHEAD. THIS IS HER FIRST YEAR IN THE AFTER SCHOOL ART CLUB AND HE'S EXTREMELY HAPPY TO HAVE WON RUNNER UP. WORKED HARD ON THE ARTWORK, 20 HOURS AS WELL. AND SHE LIKED TO THANK HER ART TEACHER FOR BELIEVING IN HER AND HER ART AND PUSHING HER TO BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM. SHE HAS LOVED CREATING SINCE SHE WAS LITTLE AND IT'S FAVORITE THING TO DO. SHE ENJOYS MAKING ART, SPENDING TIME IN NATURE AND READING. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THEM BOTH, FIRST OF ALL, THE ARTWORK IS INCREDIBLE AND SECOND OF ALL, THEY'RE AT THE SAME SCHOOL IN NORTH WOOD ISD THEY HAVE EARNED OVER $10,000 FOR THEIR SCHOOL THANKS TO THE FIESTA CALF LEERS. I AM SO PROUD OF EACH OF THESE DISTRICT 6 STUDENTS WHO ARE MAKING FIESTA SEASON JUST A BIT MORE COLORFUL AND EXCITING FOR ALL OF US. DO ANY OF Y'ALL HAVE SOMETHING APPROXIMATE YOU WANT TO SHARE? I KNOW. IF NOT, NO WORRIES. I ALSO WANT TO SAY A QUICK THANK YOU TO ALL THE PARENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AS WELL WHO MADE THIS POSSIBLE FOR THEM. THEY WOULDN'T BE HERE WITHOUT YOU ALL. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THEM HERE TODAY. THEY ARE RECOGNIZED NOT ONLY AT THEIR SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOODS, BUT HERE AT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO TOO. THANK Y'ALL. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. COUNCILMAN KAUR IS RECOGNIZED. >> KAUR: THANKS, MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING UP THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE REPRESENTING AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK AS WELL AS ANY BABY CAN . SO, APRIL IS KNOWN AS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH AND IN 2007, APRIL 2 WAS SIGNIFIED AS WORLD AUTISM DAY . AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS MONTH IS TO SHARE AND CREATE MORE INCLUSIVITY AND ACCEPTABILITY FOR FOLKS WORKING AND LIVING WITH AUTISM EVERY DAY. SO I WANTED TO HONOR TWO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING SOME AMAZING WORK. WE HAVE FOLKS HERE FROM THE AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK AND WE ALSO HAVE OFFICER RANGEL WHO WORKED FOR NORTHSIDE ISD, PREVIOUSLY AS THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, AS A [01:15:01] LIAISON FOR WORKING WITH FOLKS WITH AUTISM. WE ALSO HAVE BOARD MEMBERS FROM ANY BABY CAN. THIS SATURDAY THEY ARE HOSTING A FIESTA EVENT AND IT'S AN AUTISM WALK ON APRIL 18. WE'LL BE THERE IN THE AFTERNOON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK YOU DO. >> THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU TO COUNCILWOMAN KAUR FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE THE STAGE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT ANY BABY CAN. MY NAME IS COURTNEY AND I'M THE CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER AT AUTISM NETWORK. THEY ARE CLIENTS AND HE FUNCTIONS AS AN AUTISM LIAISON, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE AND I HAVE OUR CHIEF OF PROGRAMS, ADRIANNE AND TRACY SAUNDERS AND THEIR TEAM. WHAT WE DO AT AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK IS WE PROVIDE NEUROAFFIRMING CARE. WE SERVED 3100 INDIVIDUALS LAST YEAR AND WE ARE IN GREAT COMPANY WITH ANY BABY CAN. I'M SURE THEY SHARE IN THE SAME SENTIMENTS THAT APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH. BUT FOR US, THAT'S EVERY DAY AND EVERY MONTH. I'M INCREDIBLY PROUD OF WHAT WE DO. WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO AND SERVE OUR MISSION AND SERVE THE 3100 INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SINCERELY. I WILL PASS IT OVER TO EMERSON AND TRACY. >> HELLO, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS EMERSON. I'M 19 YEARS OLD. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM BY ACN17 YEARS AGO. AT THE TIME I COULD NOT TALK OR COMMUNICATE BUT I FINALLY STARTED TALKING IN COMPLETE SENTENCES WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND TODAY I HAVE A LOT TO SAY. ACN HAS BEEN WITH ME FOR 17 YEARS. ACN HAS TAUGHT ME SO MANY THINGS OVER THE YEARS. SPEECH, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, AND EVEN CURSIVE SO I CAN WRITE MY NAME. SIGNATURES ARE IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE A GROWN UP GAMES AND OF COURSE THE CENTER ROOM. I EVEN TACKLED HENRY THE PUFFY TACO AND THREW THE OPENING PITCH ONE YEAR. I HAVE MANY AMAZING EXPERIENCES WITH ACN. AS AN ADULT, I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN ACN AMBASSADOR. I HAVE MANY INTERESTS, INCLUDING MUSIC, LANGUAGE, GEOGRAPHY, AND VIDEO EDITING. AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH IS A TIME TO LISTEN TO AUTISTIC PEOPLE. I LOVE AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS LISTEN AND HELP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, EMERSON. WHAT A RAY OF LIGHT. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. AND OF COURSE TO EMERSON, ONE OF OUR AMBASSADORS SUPPORTING OUR AGENCY. IN HONOR OF AUTISM ACCEPTANCE AND AWARENESS MONTH AND TO DOVETAIL ON WHAT MS. JOHN SHARED ABOUT AUTISM COMMUNITY NETWORK, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION THAT EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF AUTISM LEADS TO EARLY ACCESS TO NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CARE AND SUPPORTS. CHILDREN CAN BE DIAGNOSED AS YOUNG AS 14 MONTHS OF AGE. BUT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, SHOCKINGLY, THE 4.5 TO 5 YEARS OLD. WE AT ACN ARE PROUD TO REPORT THAT OUR AVERAGE AGE AT DIAGNOSIS IS ONLY 38 MONTHS. WE ARE STRIVING TO MAKE THAT EVEN YOUNGER. WITH THE DECREASED WAIT TIMES FOR TESTING THAT WE OFFER AND THE WAY WE TRIAGE CHILDREN TO APPROPRIATE DIAGNOSTIC TRACKS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US TODAY AND CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR WORK THROUGH THE CITY. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] >> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU, COUNCIL, MAYOR, EVERYONE. THEY'VE BASICALLY SAID EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY, OTHER THAN JUST SIMPLY I WAS HERE ORIGINALLY BECAUSE I WANTED TO THANK YOU ALL FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUNDING. IT'S ON THE AGENDA LATER. THE CONSENT. BUT I FOUND OUT FROM THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AT DISTRICT 1 THAT THEY WERE CELEBRATING AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH AND I FELT I HAD TO SAY SOMETHING ON THAT ON BEHALF OF MY DAY JOB IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING [01:20:02] BUT I DIVIDE MY HEART BETWEEN THAT AND FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND ANY BABY CAN. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT Y'ALL NOTICE, OBVIOUSLY AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH. AND AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO ECHO WHAT SHE SAID ABOUT THE WALK FOR AUTISM. IT'S GOING TO BE THIS SATURDAY AT RETAMA. WE'LL BE CELEBRATING THE FAMILIES THAT WE AND ACN SERVE. WITHOUT GOING ANY FURTHER, JUST SIMPLY THANK YOU, GUYS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. [CITY MANAGER'S REPORT  ] >> MAYOR JONES: THE NEXT ITEM IS THE CITY MANAGER'S REPORT. ERIK, OVER TO YOU. >> WALSH: THANK YOU, MAYOR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL, THIS MORNING WE'VE GOT THREE QUICK ITEMS. ONE, I WANTED TO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL THAT WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR OWN SAN ANTONIO PUBLIC ART ORDINANCE. WE WERE ADOPTED IN 1996 AT POSITION SAN ANTONIO AS ONE OF THE FIRST TEXAS CITIES WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM. FOR OVER THREE DECADES, PUBLIC ART HAS SHAPED OUR CITY'S IDENTITY THROUGH PROJECTS, NEIGHBORHOODS, A LIVING CANVAS THAT STRETCHES THROUGHOUT FACILITIES AND GREENWAY TRAILS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS, THE AIRPORT, AND THE RIVER WALK. AND I WANTED TO SHARE -- MOST OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY ALREADY SEEN IT -- TO CELEBRATE THAT 30 YEARS, THE 30-YEAR FIESTA MEDAL. THE PUBLIC ART MEDAL IS OFFICIALLY OUR SAN ANTONIO CITY MEDAL. WE HAVE PLENTY OF THOSE. I KNOW WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED THEM. GET THEM WHILE THEY'RE HOT BECAUSE THERE'S A LIMITED SUPPLY. BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ART FOLKS AND OUR STAKEHOLDERS TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM. THE SECOND ITEM IS JUST A QUICK REPORT ON SOME WEEKEND EVENTS. ACS HELD THEIR PAW-CHANGA EVENT. RESIDENTS WERE ABLE TO ENJOY TWO DAYS OF FIESTA WITH LIVE MUSIC, FIESTA FAVORITES, AND AN ARTISAN MARKET. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR PARTNER AGENCIES, OUR PARTNER SHELTERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND OVER 200 VOLUNTEERS THAT HELPED US OVER THE TWO-DAY EVENT. AND WITH 213 DOGS AND CATS ADOPTED, THAT WAS A HUGE MILESTONE AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. I WANTED TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY. LASTLY, IN KEEPING WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, THIS WEEK WE ARE CELEBRATING ANIMAL CARE APPRECIATION WEEK AND IT'S A TIME TO RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK AND EMPLOYEES OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES WHO MAKE AN IMPACT ON PEOPLE AND PETS IN OUR COMMUNITY, BOTH FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT AND AN ANIMAL WELFARE STANDPOINT. HAPPY TO REPORT THIS MONTH'S QUARTERLY REPORT -- OR THIS MONTH'S REPORT THAT JOHN SHARED WITH ME. WE HAD A 94.3% CRITICAL CALL RESPONSE RATE, WHICH IS VASTLY IMPROVED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND THE INVESTMENT IN OUR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES DEPARTMENT. WE'RE AT AN 89.5% LIVE RELEASE RATE AND ADOPTIONS ARE UP. LOOKING FORWARD TO SHARING THOSE FULL STATS WITH COUNCIL AS WE GO INTO BUDGET. OUR ACS WORKERS, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY DO, ARE IMPORTANT FROM AN ENFORCEMENT, SAFETY, ADOPTION, AND CARE OF ANIMALS. CERTAINLY WANT TO THANK THEM. TODAY'S VIDEO IS GOING TO SPOTLIGHT ONE OF OUR EMPLOYEES, CHRISTA BROOKS, ONE OF OUR ANIMAL CARE SUPERVISORS, WHO IS A BIG PART OF THIS MISSION. SHE HAS A DUAL ROLE. SHE IS ALSO ONE OF OUR STATE-CERTIFIED ANIMAL CARE OFFICER INSTRUCTORS WHO TRAINS OUR EMPLOYEES AND SPECIFICALLY ACS OFFICERS. >> DO YOU GUYS LIKE PAW PATROL? >> YEAH! >> WE'RE KIND OF LIKE PAW PATROL . WE'RE LIKE THE ANIMAL POLICE. I KNEW EVER SINCE I WAS A KID THAT I WANTED TO WORK FOR ANIMALS. GROWING UP, I KNOW IT SEEMS STEREOTYPICAL AUDIO]. I KNEW ANIMALS WERE WHERE MY HEART LIE. I RECOGNIZED A NEED FOR MORE PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT AND EDUCATION. [01:25:01] SO TRANSITIONING TO FIELD OPERATIONS ALLOWED ME TO SET PEOPLE UP FOR SUCCESS AND SET ANIMALS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BEFORE THEY END UP HERE IN THE SHELTERS. A BIG PART OF OUR MISSION IS EDUCATION AND PROVIDING RESOURCES TO COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. WE ARE CONSTANTLY COMING UP WITH NEW WAYS TO CONNECT SERVICES TO RESIDENTS. A BIG ASPECT OF MY ROLE IS SUPPORTING DURING INCLEMENT EXTREME WEATHER, SUCH AS THIS RECENT COLD WEATHER SNAP. WE HELP SUPPORT RESILIENCY HUBS AND WARMING CENTERS AND PROVIDE DOG HOUSES AND OTHER RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY SO THEY CAN SAFELY CARE FOR THEIR PETS AT HOME. ALL OF THE CITY CORE VALUES REALLY GUIDE HOW OUR TEAM TRAINS AND DEVELOPS. TEAMWORK IS AT THE FOREFRONT. WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAINTAIN THE TRUST, NOT JUST AMONGST OUR PEERS BUT THE COMMUNITY. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES AND HUMANLY ENFORCE THE LAWS HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. I WORK WITH A DIVERSE AND PASSIONATE TEAM. I LOVE HAVING THE SHARED MISSION WITH MY TEAM. EVERYONE IS HERE FOR THE SAME REASON, TO SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. THERE IT IS! THAT'S COOL! >> WALSH: MAYOR, WE'VE GOT A HANDFUL OF EMPLOYEES HERE ON THIS SIDE OF THE ROOM. THANK YOU ALL FOR WHAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU. WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS THAT ALSO JOINS US THIS MORNING. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND THAT'S THE REPORT, MAYOR. THANKS. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. MOVING ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA. [CONSENT AGENDA  ] ITEMS 5 THROUGH 28 ARE ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. THIS MEANS THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AS A GROUP AND THERE WILL NOT BE A STAFF PRESENTATION UNLESS PULLED FOR CONSIDERATION. ARE THERE ANY ITEMS COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO PULL FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA TO BE PULLED INDIVIDUALLY? COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE WOULD LIKE TO PULL ITEM NO. 19. ANY OTHERS? I WOULD LIKE TO NOTE THAT ITEM 20, MR. NICK CANNON, HAS WITHDRAWN HIS APPLICATION FROM THE AIRPORT ADVISORY BOARD. THE ITEM WILL STAY ON CONSENT WITH THIS CORRECTION ITEM 19 HAS BEEN PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION HERE. WE HAVE SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS SIGNED UP. MR. ANTONIO DIAZ. ANTONIO DIAZ. ANTONIO DIAZ? FOLLOWED BY DIANA FLORES URIAGAS AND RENEE GONZALES. PLEASE LINE UP. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. >> I SIGNED UP FOR SEVERAL ITEMS. >> MAYOR JONES: SIR, YOU SIGNED UP FOR 22 AND 26 BUT YOU WILL BE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTES FOR BOTH. >> SO YOU'RE CUTTING ME OUT OF SIX MINUTES, I GUESS? ANYWAYS, MY CONCERNS -- BECAUSE I CAME YESTERDAY DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ADDRESSING HOW THOSE HUD FUNDS WOULD BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I HAD A QUESTION. I STILL DON'T SEE A PRESENTATION SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT SPECIFICS THERE ARE TO THOSE FUNDS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM ONE POCKET TO THE OTHER. STILL DON'T KNOW IT. I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE THEY'LL BE USED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING AT THE ROBERT E. LEE OR WHAT IT WILL EXACTLY -- HOW THAT MONEY WILL BE TRANSFERRED AND SPENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I DO HOPE -- I WAS READING SOMEWHERE THAT ROBERT E. LEE AFFORDABLE HOUSING EFFORT THAT THERE IS A PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE ALLOWED WITH 30% OF THE MEDIAN INCOME. SO THAT'S GOOD NEWS. BUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS A GREAT ISSUE AND HAS A BIG IMPACT ON A LOT OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH THERE ARE EXTENSIVE PERCENTAGE OF LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN SAN ANTONIO. IT'S A MAJOR ISSUE. ALSO, THE OTHER ITEMS -- I DON'T KNOW BY THE NUMBERS BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T READ [01:30:03] EXACTLY WHAT THE ITEM WAS. BUT I SIGNED UP FOR THOSE ITEMS. OUR POLICE, WORKING TOGETHER WITH ICE AS FAR AS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES -- >> MAYOR JONES: SIR, THAT'S NO. 19. >> THAT WAS PULLED? >> MAYOR JONES: THAT'S PULLED. WHEN I CALL UP FOLKS TO SPEAK DURING THAT, YOU CAN SPEAK. >> ANOTHER ON THE CHANGING OF THE FIRE CODE FOR NEW INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS DETENTION CENTERS. I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT THERE WILL BE SOME SUPERVISION OF DETENTION CENTERS BEING BUILT IN SAN ANTONIO. >> MAYOR JONES: SIR, THAT'S ITEM 19. >> THEY'RE BOTH THE SAME? >> MAYOR JONES: CORRECT. 19. ANYTHING RELATED TO THE DETENTION FACILITY ORDINANCE IS ITEM 19 AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR THAT ITEM. >> IF IT'S CONTINUED ON TODAY'S AGENDA, I WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT AT THAT TIME. THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ME AS FAR AS FREEDOM IS CONCERNED FOR OUR POPULATION AND INSTEAD OF BEING ARRESTED AND DETAINED SIMPLY FOR THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: DIANA FLORES URIAGAS. >> I GIVE MY TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, SIR? GO AHEAD. >> I GUESS I'LL CONTINUE. AGAIN, THESE ISSUES ON HOUSING AND -- SINCE ITEM 19 IS PULLED, I GUESS I'LL JUST CONCENTRATE ON THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ISSUE, WHICH IS AGAIN, AS I KEEP SAYING. YOU HAD A PROCLAMATION ON SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE KNOW THERE'S A MAJOR IMPACT AS FAR AS PEOPLE TRYING TO HAVE HOUSING AND BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT THROUGH EMPLOYMENT. I USED TO BE ON THE SECOND CHANCE ORGANIZATION, THROUGH OUR NONPROFIT, AND WORK WITH TOMMY ADKISSON WHEN HE WAS FORMING THAT. MY CONCERN WAS MORE TOWARDS THE LEGISLATION. THAT JUST BEING ABLE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING IS HARD ENOUGH BUT ACTUALLY BEING TREATED AS AN EQUAL, BEING THAT THERE'S SUCH A HIGH POPULATION OF PEOPLE RETURNING BACK FROM INCARCERATION. IT'S SOMETHING TO WORK ON. TEXAS IS VERY OPPRESSIVE AS FAR AS -- WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SECOND CHANCES BUT WE'RE TREATED AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS. YOU CANNOT GET A PROFESSIONAL TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT OR SEEK THAT EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF THE HISTORY OF INCARCERATION. THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK AFFECTS HOUSING. WE HAVE PRACTICALLY DONE AWAY WITH PUBLIC HOUSING. THAT IS ONE OF THE STANDARDS, I BELIEVE, TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING IS IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUS HISTORY OF INCARCERATIONS. ALL OF THESE IMPACT HOUSING AND I GUESS IT WILL CONTINUE TO, AS FAR AS IF THE CITY GETS INTO AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHAT THE STANDARDS WOULD BE FOR SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO QUALIFY FOR THAT HOUSING. AGAIN, IT'S NOT JUST -- I GUESS MAJOR IS ECONOMICS. SO WHETHER YOU HAVE EMPLOYMENT AND YOU HAVE EMPLOYMENT THAT IS, AS SOME STATISTICS ARE THAT MEDIAN INCOME IS $80,000 TO $70,000 IN SAN ANTONIO, WHICH I CONTINUE TO REFUTE. I THINK IT'S MORE LIKE $30,000 OR $20,000. IF YOU'RE GETTING PAID $10 AN HOUR AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE TWO OR THREE JOBS TO ACCOMPLISH BEING SOMEWHERE ABOVE $30,000 A YEAR, IT'S VERY DIFFICULT. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE FIND EMPLOYMENT THAT PAYS THEM $30,000 TO $40,000 A YEAR, THAT'S NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. >> MAYOR JONES: RENEE GONZALES. >> FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL TAYLOR AND JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. MY NAME IS RENEE GONZALES AND I AM THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST . I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THE RECOMMENDATION MADE [01:35:03] BY NHSD TO FUND THE PROPOSAL SUBMITTED BY THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST AND TO ASK ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE TO ACCEPT THE RECOMMENDATION. NEXT SLIDE. THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST WAS FOUNDED IN 2022 AS A TOOL TO PRESERVE AND BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO . HISTORICALLY, ONE OF THE MOST DISINVESTED AND POOR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY. THE LAND TRUST FOCUSED ON THOSE EARNING 30% AND BELOW OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME IS IMPORTANT, PRECISELY BECAUSE THE POPULATION THAT THE SHIP DATA IDENTIFIES AS HAVING THE GREATEST HOUSING NEED IN OUR CITY IS THAT AT 30% OR BELOW THE MEDIAN INCOME. THIS WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT GAVE SAN ANTONIO ITS UNIQUE CULTURAL IDENTITY, BOTH INITIALLY AND FOR AT LEAST 200 YEARS. EVEN NOW, THE INFLUENCE OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND CULTURE REMAINS STRONG. HOWEVER, THE LEGACY OF ITS CULTURAL ROOTS AND LEGACY RESIDENTS ARE THREATENED BY INATTENTIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, GENERATIONAL POPULATION DISPLACEMENT, NEW IMMIGRATION PATTERNS, GENTRIFICATION, AND MUNICIPAL BUREAUCRATIC INDIFFERENCE. WHILE IN THE PAST THAT NEIGHBORHOOD HAD ONE OF THE HIGHEST HOME OWNERSHIP RATES IN THE CITY, LACK OF INVESTMENT IN ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, PEOPLE, AND HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE HAVE HAD A SEVERE NEGATIVE IMPACT, SUCH THAT IT IS NOW ONE OF THE POOREST AND WITH AN EXTREMELY LOW MEDIAN INCOME. MANY OF THE HOUSES IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE BUILT BEFORE 1950 AND ARE SUFFERING FROM AGE-RELATED MATERIAL DETERIORATION. THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY TO DOWNTOWN AND RECENT DECISIONS BY THE CITY REGARDING DEVELOPMENT HAVE ALSO MADE ITS OLDER HOMES AND LOTS AN ATTRACTIVE AREA FOR OUT OF TOWN INVESTORS AND DEVELOPERS. THE RESULT HAS BEEN A SURGE IN THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY ON THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE. THE RECOMMENDED AWARD IS A START TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY THE NEEDS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUT ALSO ONE OF THE LOWEST-PERFORMING AREAS IN THE STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. HOUSING FOR LOW AND EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME SAN ANTONIANS. WHILE THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS GREAT ACROSS ALL INCOME LEVELS, IT IS GREATEST FOR THOSE IN THE LOW-INCOME AREAS BECAUSE THEY WILL OFTEN BECOME DISPLACED, HOMELESS, OR MOVE FURTHER OUT TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ONE OF THE GOALS OF THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST IS TO WORK WITH AND HELP DEVELOP BUILDING CONTRACTORS FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THOSE FAMILIAR WITH WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS A GOAL THAT WE EXPECT WILL NOT ONLY SERVE THE COMMUNITY BUT HELP BUILD AND SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY AND LARGER AREAS. THE LAND TRUST IS FOCUSED ON PRESERVING EXISTING HOUSES, IS ONE FOUNDED ON BASIC COST LOGIC. AN EXISTING HOME IS CHEAPER TO REHAB AND REPAIR THAN BUILDING A NEW ONE. THIS LOGIC HOLDS EVEN AS BUILDING AND LABOR COSTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE COVID. THIS FOCUS ALSO SUPPORTS THE ESPERANZA COMMUNITY LAND TRUST'S GOAL OF PRESERVING AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ITS CURRENT AND LEGACY RESIDENTS HELPING TO PRESERVE THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CULTURAL LEGACY. WHILE THE COST REIMBURSABLE NATURE PRESENTS A STRONG CHALLENGE TO NONPROFITS, ESPECIALLY SMALL COMMUNITY-BASED ONES, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE RECOMMENDATION AND WE PLEDGE TO FULFILL THE CONTRACT TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND WE HOPE THAT IN DISCUSSION TO COME ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUTURE HOUSING BOND THAT YOU REMEMBER THE PEOPLE OF THE HISTORIC WEST SIDE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VOTE. >> MAYOR JONES: MICHAEL TAYLOR FOLLOWED BY FINAL SPEAKER, JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS MICHAEL TAYLOR. I'M THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SAN ANTONIO. I'M SPEAKING TODAY ON ITEM 28 AND I WANT TO REQUEST CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE FUNDING TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. I WANT TO START BY GIVING A THANKS TO VERONICA GARCIA, VERONICA GONZALEZ, AND SAMANTHA DIAZ, THE ENTIRE TEAM FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT OF AFFORDABLE HOME OWNERSHIP. I HAVE TO BE HONEST, WORKING WITH FEDERAL FUNDS CAN BE CHALLENGING SO WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THEIR SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE. THE BLEND OF HOME AND CDBG FUNDS THAT WOULD BE ALLOCATED TO HABITAT'S RANCHO VERNANO PROJECT WOULD BE USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, SEWER MAINS FOR 47 NEW AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES FOR HARD WORKING LOW [01:40:02] AND VERY LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE'RE CALLING RANCHO VERNANO. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE BOOMING SOUTH SIDE AND WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE TO AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND A HIGH SCHOOL. THESE GRANT FUNDS WILL LEVERAGE MILLIONS MORE IN DONATIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, FAITH AND CIVIC GROUPS, AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO MAKE HOME BUILDING POSSIBLE. LAND ACQUISITION AND LAND DEVELOPMENT COSTS REMAIN HIGH. THE CITY FUNDS COVER THESE COSTS AND REALLY SET THE STAGE FOR HOME BUILDING. SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO SELL HABITAT HOMES AT NO PROFIT AND FINANCE THEM FOR 15 TO 25 YEARS AT 0% INTEREST . WITH ALL OF THIS IT MEANS THE MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR HABITAT HOMES WITH TAXES AND INSURANCE ARE ABOUT $900 A MONTH FOR A THREE OR FOUR-BEDROOM HOME AND THAT'S EXCEPTIONALLY AFFORDABLE IN THESE DAYS. WE COULD NOT DO THAT WITHOUT THE CITY'S SUPPORT. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WE'LL BE BUILDING HOMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS IN DISTRICT 2, DISTRICT 3, DISTRICT 5, AND DISTRICT 4. AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES IN MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE CITY. AND JUST A SPECIAL REMINDER, THIS IS A REALLY SPECIAL YEAR FOR HABITAT. IT'S ACTUALLY OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY. AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS A LOT LATELY. THE VERY FIRST HABITAT HOME IN THE WORLD IS ACTUALLY BUILT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO ON THE WEST SIDE. THE FAMILY THAT PURCHASED IT 50 YEARS AGO IS STILL LIVING THERE TODAY. SO THIS IS A YEAR OF CELEBRATION FOR US. ONE OF THE REALLY FUN THINGS WE'RE GOING TO DO, A LITTLE BIT CRAZY, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD A HOUSE IN 50 HOURS THIS SUMMER, JULY 16, 17, AND 18. IT'S GOING TO BE A PARTY AND IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED IN PROVIDING AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING SOLUTION FOR A FAMILY IN NEED. HOPE MANY OF YOU WILL BE INVOLVED. JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY AND I JUST HOPE YOU'LL SUPPORT THESE GRANT AWARDS. >> MAYOR JONES: JACK FINGER. >> WELL MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER. YOU KNOW, A LONG TIME AGO THE QUESTION AROSE -- BEFORE I GET INTO THAT, LET ME SUGGEST THIS. YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL, YOU APPROVE ALL KINDS OF CONTRACTS THAT THE CITY CONTRACTS WITH ALL KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS, BOTH PROFIT AND NONPROFIT. AND THE QUESTION IS ALWAYS ARISEN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THOSE ORGANIZATIONS, THEIR SHAREHOLDERS, GIVE YOU, THE CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE AS CANDIDATES FOR YOUR POSITION, ALL KINDS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTIONS? DOESN'T THAT AMOUNT TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST? I MEAN, GIVING YOU MONEY FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN SO YOU IN TURN WILL VOTE FOR THEIR CONTRACTS THAT THEY CAN PROFIT FROM WHEN DOING BUSINESS WITH THE CITY. AND SO WE ALL KNOW IT'S NOT REALLY CONFLICT OF INTEREST BUT WE REALLY SHOULD REPORT WHO IS GETTING WHAT KINDS OF MONEY FROM WHAT KINDS OF PEOPLE. THAT'S FINE BUT HOW DO YOU REPORT THAT? WELL, KNOWING THAT YOU DON'T REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO SEE IT YOU SAY, WELL, WE'LL JUST HAVE THE CITY CLERK'S DEPARTMENT JUST REPORT IT IN SOME SORT OF GOBBLEDYGOOK FASHION SO THE AVERAGE CITIZEN CAN'T FIND OUT. I NOTICE ON ITEM 28, WHICH IS ALREADY SPOKEN UPON THERE, IS ABOUT THE IDEA OF THE CITY COUNCIL GIVING ALL KINDS OF -- NO, IT'S ABOUT THE CITY DOING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH I OF COURSE CALL WELFARE HOUSING. MR. AUDIO VIDEO MAN, BLOW UP THAT TOP PART THERE SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT THERE. YEAH. YEAH. BASICALLY JUST AUTHORIZING EIGHT AWARDS TO VARIOUS COMPANIES WHO ARE GOING TO GIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING. BELOW THAT, ALL THE BLUE LETTERING, MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN. YEAH. SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY, THOSE ARE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE GIVEN YOU CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTIONS. BUT HOW WOULD ANYBODY KNOW WHAT? WHAT DOES CDF MEAN? IT MEANS -- WHAT IS IT? CONTRACT DISCLOSURES. OKAY. WHO IS GIVING WHAT? WELL, I LOOKED INTO THOSE AND I FOUND OUT THAT, BY GOLLY -- RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. THAT WHAT I CALL CONFLICT OF INTEREST IS EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU HAS GOTTEN SEVERAL -- ALMOST SEVERAL THOUSAND [01:45:01] DOLLARS IN CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONTRIBUTIONS THERE FROM THE VARIOUS PEOPLE. NOW, OF COURSE RIC GALVAN, YOU ONLY GOT 457 BUCKS. I WOULD GET MAD AT THEM SIR AND SIMPLY SAY, NO, YOU GUYS HAD BETTER START PAYING IF YOU WANT TO PLAY. AND THEN THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS IF Y'ALL DO THE RIGHT THING AND ABSTAIN? HA, HA, THEY WOULDN'T GET A THING. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THOSE ARE ALL THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. IS THERE A BAL MOTION TO APPROVE THE BALANCE? IT IS MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. ARE THERE ANY HIGHLIGHTS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONSENT AGENDA? I'VE GOT A COUPLE. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M SURPRISED TO SEE I FINALLY MADE THE LIST. I AM EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 10, APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE PEGGY DRIVE DRAINAGE AREA PROJECT . THIS IS AN EXCITING STEP WE ARE TAKING TODAY SO WE CAN FINALLY BEGIN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS DRAINAGE PROJECT THAT WILL CHANGE THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE BETTER. WHEN THE BOND PROPOSITION PASSED THERE WAS A GET TOGETHER AT SYLVIA ALANIZ'S HOME. THEY WERE WAITING AS THE RESULTS OF THE PROPOSITION ROLLED IN. I WAS SO HAPPY TO BE THERE. THERE WAS KARAOKE AND DANCING AND FUN AND IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST EXCITING BOND ELECTION WATCH PARTY YOU COULD HAVE. THEY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THE DESIGN PROJECT, WHICH IS ART. I AM SO GRATEFUL TO THE NEIGHBORS WHO BROUGHT THIS PROJECT TO MY ATTENTION AND THE PUBLIC WORKS STAFF BUT NOW PUBLIC WORKS CAPITAL DELIVERY. AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE NEIGHBORS SO THAT THEY COULD ADVOCATE FOR IT TO BE A PART OF THE BOND PROGRAM AND FOR THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR NEIGHBORS. I'M EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 20. CONGRATULATIONS TO BAILEY ANCHONDO, ROGER DILLARD, RYAN FENDER, BRETT FINLEY, EARL JACKSON, AND DEBORAH OMWALE JARMON. IT WAS WONDERFUL TO LISTEN TO THEM. EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE APPOINTEES HAD AN IMPRESSIVE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT TO THE CREATION OF A HIGH-QUALITY EXPERIENCE FOR ALL WHO ENTER THE AIRPORT. THEY REPRESENT DIVERSE EXPERIENCES WHICH IS SURE TO MAKE FOR LIVELY DISCUSSIONS. MOST OF ALL, I THANK EACH OF YOU FOR JESUS, I BELIEVE THESE APPOINTEES WILL MAKE WONDERFUL ADDITIONS TO THE AIRPORT TEAM AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT 308-SLIDE PRESENTATION ABOUT THE AIRPORT TERMINAL AND WE'LL WORK TO FILL THAT LAST VACANCY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. I HAVE TWO ITEMS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 9, APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE CULEBRA PARK AREA STREETS . I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE THESE STREET REPAIR PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE CULEBRA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COME TO LIFE. THIS AREA OF DISTRICT 7 HAS HAD CHALLENGES AND HAS BEEN IGNORED FOR TOO MANY DECADES. WITH THIS FUNDING, THE STREETS WILL FINALLY GET THE IMPROVEMENTS THESE NEIGHBORS DESERVE. ON TOP OF THAT, I'M PROUD TO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SIDEWALKS AND OTHER F-RATED STREETS IN THE AREA TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS PROJECT. AFTER CONSTRUCTION IS COMPLETED, THERE WILL HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF OVER $8.5 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. I WANT TO THANK THE NEIGHBORS AND THE LEADERS OF THE CULEBRA PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION WHO WORKED HARD TO ENSURE THESE PROJECTS BECAME A REALITY. I'M GLAD TO HAVE WORKED ALONGSIDE THEM TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 20, A AND B. APPOINTING THE AT-LARGE MEMBERS TO THE ADVISORY COMMISSION. SPECIFICALLY I WANT TO SHOUT OUT ELLIE SMITH AND MICHAEL FRY. I'M EXCITED TO HAVE TWO DISTRICT 7 RESIDENTS BEING APPOINTED. ELLIE CURRENTLY SERVES ON THE PORT SAN ANTONIO BOARD REPRESENTING DISTRICT 7. DR. FRY IS A TEN NURD PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AT UIW AND HAS A BACKGROUND IN AVIONICS, FLIGHT CONTROL. THEY ARE IMPRESSIVE. I ALSO WANT TO THANK MARK FOR HIS BOARD LEADERSHIP [01:50:04] OVER THE TO SEE THEIR SUCCESS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMAN MUNGIA. >> W.>> MUNGIA: I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT 28. WE HAVE A REHAB PROJECT. WE HAVE PRODUCTIONS FOR DISTRICTS 4 AND DISTRICT 2. WE ALSO HAVE HOME OWNERSHIP, WHICH AGAIN HABITAT'S THE ONLY PROVIDER IN THE WHOLE AREA DOING AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY FOR DISTRICTS 4 AND 5. WE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO APPLIED. THANK YOU TO THE HOUSING TRUST, NHSD FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS AND FOR THE COUNCIL'S SUPPORT. I WOULD JUST ADD IF YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP HERE AND CRITICIZE US, TRY TO SPELL OUR NAMES CORRECTLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THIS MORNING I'M EAGER TO HIGHLIGHT 7, WHICH IS APPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION AT CASSIANO PARK. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE PARKS TEAM FOR ENSURING THAT COMMUNITY INPUT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE PROPOSED PLAN. GRATEFUL FOR OUR 2022 BOND COMMITTEE MEMBERS WHO ADVOCATED TO HAVE THIS PARK ADDED TO THE LIST BY MEETING WITH CONSTITUENTS FROM DIFFERENT DISTRICTS TO DEMONSTRATE THE NEED OF WEST SIDE PARKS, PARTICULARLY CASSIANO PARK. VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THESE DOLLARS WILL GO TO INCLUDE IMPROVEMENTS FOR A POOL HOUSE, A NEW PLAYGROUND AND SO MUCH MORE. I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE PARKS TEAM WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL AT APPLYING AND OBTAINING AN ADDITIONAL $1.5 MILLION GRANT FROM THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION FOR CASSIANO PARK. THIS IS TRULY A TEAM COMMUNITY EFFORT. GRATEFUL FOR THE PARKS TEAM AND IT'S GOING TO BE PHENOMENAL. RIGHT DOWN THE CREEK, THE PARKS TEAM AND OUR OFFICE CELEBRATED THE OPENING OF THE ALL-WHEELS PARK AT BENAVIDES PARK. I TEXTED HOMER, HEY, THERE'S OVER 45 PEOPLE IN THIS ALL-WHEELS PARK, ALL AGES ON ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF WHEELS. IT WAS JUST AMAZING AND I WAS JUST IN AWE ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF INDIVIDUALS USING THE AMENITY. JUST AMAZING. THANK YOU, HOMER AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL THAT YOU DO FOR OUR PARKS AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM 6. IT'S A DRAINAGE PROJECT OUT IN OAK HAVEN AREA STREETS AND KENTWOOD PHASE 2 . THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT FOCUSES ON THE BEHIND THE SCENES INFRASTRUCTURE WORK AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE DRAINAGE IN DISTRICT 9. WE'RE OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO TRAP WATER OVER THE RECHARGE ZONE IS IMPORTANT. AND THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS. AND I APPRECIATE THE STRONG COORDINATION WITH SAWS AND CPS ENERGY HERE. AND ALIGNING TO WORK ON THIS PROJECT. IT'S ALSO A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE 2022 BOND PROGRAM DELIVERING MEANINGFUL IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK ON THIS. I'M ALSO EQUALLY EXCITED ABOUT ITEM NO. 8, WHICH IS THE EVANS ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT. THIS IS A BIG ONE FOR US BECAUSE IT IMPROVES THE SAFETY AND LINE OF SIGHT FOR TRAFFIC AND WILL IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW. IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT FOR DRAINAGE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. JUST THE SAFETY OF THE AREA. SO I REALLY DO APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK DONE THERE. AGAIN, THE 2022 BOND PROJECT COMING TO FRUITION. THANK YOU FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ITEM NO. 15, WHICH IS AT THE AIRPORT -- YAY, AIRPORT -- FOR THE LEASE WITH THE TEXAS AIR MUSEUM . I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VISIT THE TEXAS AIR MUSEUM. IT HIGHLIGHTS HOW TEXAS AND SPECIFICALLY SAN ANTONIO, THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN MILITARY AIR POWER AND DEVELOPMENT OF MILITARY AIR POWER FOR THE UNITED STATES. IT'S VOLUNTEER RUN AND IT REALLY TELLS A MEANINGFUL STORY. THIS PAST FRIDAY, I WAS PART OF -- I GOT TO ATTEND THE WORLD WAR II VETERAN, WHO WAS RETURNED HOME AFTER 81 YEARS. HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED HOME TO HIS FAMILY AND THEY CAME IN ON OUR AIRPORT. SOUTHWEST FLEW A FLIGHT IN AND IT WAS JUST SO MOVING. I'LL NEVER BE A PART OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT. HIS NAME WAS STAFF SERGEANT DAYTON PULLVADO. HIS FAMILY MEMBERS WERE [01:55:04] THERE AND NONE OF THEM KNEW HIM BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED SO LONG AGO. I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT IT FELT LIKE TO SEE HIM FINALLY RETURNED HOME. HIS FUNERAL PROCESSION IS TOMORROW AND IT'S IN JOH JOHNSON CITY AND IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG CELEBRATION FOR HIM. THANKS TO OUR AIRPORT FOR BRINGING HIM HOME. THANKS. >> MAYOR JONES: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR HIGHLIGHTS ON THE CONSENT? OKAY. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA EXCEPT FOR ITEM NO. 19, WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION. PLEASE VOTE. THE MOTION CARRIES. [19. Ordinance approving amendments to Chapter 6 (Buildings), Chapter 10 (Building-Related Codes of the City of San Antonio), Chapter 11 (Fire Prevention), and Chapter 35 (Unified Development Code) of the City Code in order to regulate the construction or operation of detention facilities within city limits. [John Peterek, Assistant City Manager; Amin Tohmaz, Director, Development Services]] WE'LL MOVE TO THE ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FROM CONSENT FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION, WHICH IS ITEM 19. MADAME CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: ITEM 19 IS AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 6, BUILDINGS, CHAPTER 10, BUILDING-RELATED CODES OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, CHAPTER 11, FIRE PREVENTION, AND CHAPTER 35, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. IN ORDER TO REGULATE THE CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION OF DETENTION FACILITIES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. IS THERE A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL? IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED TO APPROVE ITEM 19. COUNCILMAN WHYTE, WOULD YOU LIKE A STAFF PRESENTATION? >> WHYTE: I DON'T KNOW THAT WE NEED IT, UNLESS Y'ALL WANT IT. I AM GOING TO HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR STAFF BUT I THINK IT'S UP TO MY COLLEAGUES. >> MAYOR JONES: IS THERE ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE A STAFF PRESENTATION? OKAY. IF THERE'S NO NEED FOR A STAFF PRESENTATION, I'LL CALL UP THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. THE FIRST INDIVIDUAL IS SARAH CRUZ. SARAH CRUZ. YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. FOLLOWED BY ANTONIO DIAZ, DIANA FLORES URIAGAS, AND THEN JACK FINGER. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS SARAH CRUZ AND I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF THE AFL-CIO TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE. SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CLEAR. WE NEED ACTION TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. THIS ORDINANCE, IF PASSED, IS A GREAT FIRST STEP AND WE HOPE IT DOESN'T STOP HERE. FOR THOSE ON CITY COUNCIL WHO MAY HESITATE TO USE YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY BECAUSE OF A RETALIATORY STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE URGE YOU TO BE BOLD. YOU CAN PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROTECTING SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS AND HELP KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE CONCERNS ABOUT ICE'S OPERATION AND THE CONDITIONS IN THE DETENTION CENTERS ARE NOT UNFOUNDED NOR SHOULD THEY BE DOWN PLAYED. ATTORNEYS HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE DETAINED BY ICE ABOUT THE UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL ABUSE INFLICTED ON THEM BY GUARDS WHILE AT THE CAMP EAST MONTANA DETENTION FACILITY . I AM CERTAIN YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT SIMILAR CONDITIONS FROM ATTORNEYS WITH CLIENTS IN OTHER DETENTION CENTERS. WE UNDERSTAND THE CITY HAS BEEN PLACED IN A DIFFICULT POSITION, THAT YOUR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED AND THAT YOU MAY HAVE A LOT OF COMPETING PRIORITIES. BUT HELPING PROTECT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF YOUR RESIDENTS SHOULD BE AMONG THE TOP. MAYOR JONES, WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT YOU EXPRESSED OPPOSITION TO THE ADMINISTRATION ABOUT ITS PLANS FOR THE EAST SIDE DETENTION CENTER BUT WE ASK THAT IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING THIS ORDINANCE THAT YOU UTILIZE TO THE FULL EXTENT ALL THE TOOLS AND OPTIONS AT YOUR DISPOSAL TO STOP THAT FACILITY AND CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR SAN ANTONIO. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: ANTONIO DIAZ FOLLOWED BY DIANA FLORES URIAGAS AND THEN JACK FINGER. >> SO THIS IS THE ONE ON THE CHARTER CHANGE FOR AS FAR AS CODES FOR FIRE PROTECTION AND DETENTION, BUILD NEW BUILDINGS, ESPECIALLY THE DETENTION CENTERS. AGAIN, I AM GLAD THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOME SORT OF WAY OF KEEPING AN EYE ON WHAT ICE IS DOING WITHIN THE FACILITIES AND HOW IT'S TREATING PEOPLE. [02:00:04] I SEE IT AS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING LAWS AND SUCH TO PROTECT US. BUT INSTEAD WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION IN OFFICE RIGHT NOW, IT'S INFLICTING INJURY. AND ICE OR OUR CITY POLICE HAVING TO WORK WITH ICE AND ALL THIS ORDINANCES, LEGISLATION BY OUR STATE THAT PROHIBIT CITIES FROM BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY GOVERN. I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO DO THIS, AT LEAST. BECAUSE IT'S NOT VERY MUCH. BUT IT'S SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TO AT LEAST SAY CAN I GO IN THERE AND CHECK ON YOUR FIRE PROTECTION AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S ADEQUATE FOR THE POPULATION THAT YOU HAVE IN THERE. BECAUSE ALL THIS RACIST INCARCERATE. I WOULD SAY MY ETHNIC GROUP, BROWN PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF WHAT NATIONALITY WE ARE, WE WERE COLONIZED AND SEPARATED AND TREATED AS WE WERE FOREIGNERS IN OUR OWN LAND, BEING DEPORTED, REMOVED CONTINUALLY AND INCARCERATED. SO WITH THIS MEASURE, AT LEAST TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY AREN'T BURNT UP BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION IS VERY MINIMAL BUT IT'S SOMETHING. SO I'M GLAD THAT Y'ALL WILL INSTITUTE THIS AND I HOPE YOU PASS IT AND APPROVE IT. MS. URIAGAS WILL BE GIVING ME HER TIME. I DON'T KNOW WHAT OTHER WORDS I CAN SAY OTHER THAN THIS IS AT LEAST ONE AVENUE TO BE ABLE TO CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING INCARCERATED FOR NATIONAL INTEREST OR RACIST INTEREST BY THIS GOVERNMENT HAVE SOME PROTECTION. SO I THANK YOU. YOU TAKE YOUR TIME. I REALLY HAVE NOTHING TO SAY ANYMORE. I'M JUST GLAD THAT Y'ALL ARE DOING SOMETHING. IT'S VERY MINIMAL BUT IT'S SOMETHING. >> HELLO. ON THIS I HOPE Y'ALL, LIKE DIAZ SAID, LOOK INTO IT. FOLLOW UP ON ALL THESE PEOPLE THEY PUT IN THERE. WHO KNOWS. IT MIGHT BE ME OR ANYBODY ELSE BECAUSE SOMETIMES I GO TO THE STORE AND I FORGET MY WALLET. YOU KNOW, IT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY. AND US, WE'RE TARGETED MORE. EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, ALL OUR LIVES, WE WERE BORN HERE AND OUR PARENTS WERE BORN HERE AND EVERYBODY, WE'VE BEEN HERE. Y'ALL NEED TO CHECK UP ON THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE HURTING THESE PEOPLE IN THERE. EVEN THE LITTLE KIDS, YOU KNOW? RAPING AND ALL THAT. THAT'S NOT RIGHT. EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE OUR LEADERS AND EVERYTHING, THAT'S NOT RIGHT. NO MEANS NO. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. PUT YOURSELF IN THEIR PLACE. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN THERE AND BE MISTREATED? NO, I DON'T THINK SO. EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE FROM HERE OR YOU BECAME A CITIZEN, CHECK UP ON IT, PLEASE. AND THE CHARTERS, HEY. IF THEY'RE THERE, DON'T CHANGE THEM. IT'S LIKE THOSE MEDIANS THAT Y'ALL PUT ON THE HIGHWAYS, THE STREETS. THEY HAVE A CHARTER ON THAT. IT'S GOT AN ORDINANCE THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE OUT THERE ANYMORE BUT YET Y'ALL PUT THEM BACK UP THERE. Y'ALL AIN'T CHECKING UP ON STUFF. YOU NEED TO DO YOUR WORK. WE PUT YOU UP HERE TO DO YOUR WORK. CHECK UP AND FOLLOW UP. ALL OF YOU COUNCILMEN, YOU WORK FOR THE MAYOR. YEAH, YOU DO. [02:05:04] SHE'S THE MAYOR. SHE'S IN CHARGE OF THE WHOLE CITY AND Y'ALL SUPPOSED TO REPORT TO HER. YEAH, YOU ARE. YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO THINGS. Y'ALL CREATE DAMAGES AND Y'ALL DON'T FIX THEM. IT'S LIKE MS. VIAGRAN, SHE'S ALWAYS MISSING IN CITIZENS TO BE HEARD. A LOT OF OUR RESTAURANTS ARE OVER THERE NOW, THERE'S A RESTAURANT THERE THAT THEY BROKE HER DRIVE-THROUGH, THE PARKING TO DRIVE IN -- >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MA'AM. THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS YOU CAN SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD. >> THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: JACK FINGER IS OUR FINAL SPEAKER. >> MADAME MAYOR, OTHER MEMBERS OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. FOR THE RECORD, MY NAME IS JACK M. FINGER AND TODAY I'M WEARING MY SHERIFF'S HAT. I'M NOT REALLY A SHERIFF BUT TODAY I THINK I'LL PLAY ONE ON TV HERE. YEAH. I WANT TO READ ITEM NO. 19 AND I WANT TO SEE IF YOU, THE VIEWER, CAN READ BETWEEN THE LINES ON THIS ONE. NO. 19. ORDINANCE APPROVING AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 6, BUILDINGS, CHAPTER 10, BUILDING-RELATED CODES OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, CHAPTER 11, FIRE PREVENTION, AND CHAPTER 35, UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE CITY CODE IN ORDER TO REGULATE THE CONSTRUCTION OR OPERATION OF DETENTION FACILITIES WITHIN CITY LIMITS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. NOW, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT YOU TRYING TO SAY TO THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES DON'T BUILD THAT DETENTION FACILITY ON THE EAST SIDE, HUH? YEAH. WHY? WELL, YOU SEE, MR. MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ -- AND JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, SHERIFFS DO NOT ARREST EVERYBODY, JUST THE BAD GUYS. YEAH. THE FEDS SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE COMING ACROSS THE BORDER. YOU HAVE A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN UP AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND HE SAYS THIS IS GOING TO STOP AND HE'S ALREADY MADE PROGRESS. PART OF THAT PROGRESS IS HAVING THIS FACILITY ON THE EAST SIDE, INCARCERATING THEM, AND EVENTUALLY DEPORTING THEM. NOW YOU FOLKS DO NOT LIKE THAT BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY IT'S TAKING AWAY VOTES FROM YOU GUYS. YEAH. YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT, BY GOLLY. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE MAKEUP OF THE CITY COUNCIL? HEAVEN FORBID. ANYWAY, SOME PEOPLE WITH SOME SENSE THOUGHT THIS WAS A BAD IDEA. THE ZONING COMMISSION. MR. AUDIO-VISUAL MAN, IT'S KIND OF BLEACHED OUT THERE, WHERE THAT STAR IS RIGHT THERE. SEE IF YOU CAN BLOW IT UP. ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED DENIAL. THEY GOT THE DATE WRONG. IT WAS APRIL 7, THIS MONTH. RECOMMENDED DENIAL. RETURN THE CAMERA, IF YOU WOULD. SO WHY DID THEY RECOMMEND DENIAL? WELL, THEY SAW THROUGH THIS GAME THAT YOU ARE PLAYING. YEAH. THEY KNOW THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. IN FACT, IF IT DID, MS. CASTILLO, HOW MANY DECADES HAS THE CURRENT JAIL BEEN IN YOUR DISTRICT THERE? MAYBE 50, 70 YEARS. HOW MANY? I DON'T KNOW. BUT WHY WASN'T THIS BROUGHT UP LONG BEFORE NOW, IF IT'S SUCH A MAJOR CONCERN? HUH? IT'S ALL SHOWING. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. THAT'S ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED TO SPEAK ON THIS ITEM. I WILL NOTE FOR MY COLLEAGUES' REFERENCE, I DID SEND A LETTER TO OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LEADERS ON THIS TOPIC ASKING FORMALLY FOR THEIR FEEDBACK ON THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE. YOU HAVE HARD COPIES OF THE TWO LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THIS ORDINANCE CHANGE THAT WERE PROVIDED. ONE FROM LEO GOMEZ AT BROOKS AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS FROM JAMES NORTE AT SAGE. FOR TODAY'S DISCUSSION, THESE ARE THE TWO THAT ARE SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF TODAY'S PROPOSED ORDINANCE. [02:10:01] SO YOU HAVE HARD COPIES OF THAT AS WELL AS THE STATUS OF REPLIES FROM THE OTHERS WHOSE FEEDBACK WAS REQUESTED. OKAY. COUNCILMAN WHYTE. YOU ARE RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK. >> WHYTE: THANK YOU, MAYOR. ON THAT LAST POINT THAT YOU JUST MADE, REGARDING BUSINESS COMMUNITY INPUT, IT ALSO SAYS ON YOUR SHEET YOU GAVE US HERE THAT THERE WERE SOME E-MAILS AND THINGS THAT WERE RECEIVED THAT I DON'T THINK WE HAVE PRINTOUTS OF. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU DON'T. BECAUSE THE COMMENTS WERE ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIPT VIA A REQUEST TO CLARIFY FOR EVERYBODY. WE ACKNOWLEDGED THE REQUEST TO DO SO BUT NO POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, OR NEUTRAL WERE PROVIDED SO THEY WERE JUST AN ACKNOWLEDGE OF RECEIPT. >> WHYTE: WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET COPIES OF THOSE E-MAILS? >> MAYOR JONES: OF COURSE. >> WHYTE: THAT WOULD BE GREAT. LISTEN, LIZ, IF I CAN ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS OFF THE GET-GO. THIS NEW ORDINANCE HERE WILL HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EFFECT ON THE CURRENT FACILITY THAT HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PURCHASED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, IS THAT RIGHT? >> AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, COUNCILMAN. THAT'S CORRECT. >> WHYTE: OKAY. IF A PRIVATE GROUP WAS TO OWN A FACILITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND THEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS TO LEASE IT FROM THAT GROUP AND THEN CONDUCT THESE SAME ACTIVITIES, THIS ORDINANCE WOULDN'T APPLY THERE EITHER, RIGHT? >> THAT IS CORRECT. WE WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT EXACTLY WHAT CONTROL AND ADMINISTRATION THEY PURPORT TO HAVE BUT IT WOULD BE AFTER THAT EVALUATION. BUT GENERALLY, YOU'RE CORRECT. >> WHYTE: OKAY. AND TAKING A LOOK AT THIS ORDINANCE HERE -- OR I GUESS IN THE RECITALS IN THE BEGINNING, IT SAYS A VAST MAJORITY OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS OF THE UNITED STATES ARE HELD IN BUILDINGS HELD BY PRIVATE CORPORATIONS, SOME OF WHICH ARE HERE WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF SAN ANTONIO OR MAYBE. DO WE HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE RIGHT NOW -- I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS FOR JOHN -- OF ANY PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES BEING OPERATED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS RIGHT NOW? >> WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. >> WHYTE: WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY. THAT RECITAL THERE, NOT SURE WE HAVE THAT IN THERE. BELOW THAT, JOHN, THIS IS FOR YOU AGAIN. IT SAYS THAT THESE DETENTION FACILITIES LIMIT ECONOMIC GROWTH OPPORTUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT. DID WE DO ANY SORT OF STUDY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, SINCE WE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THAT, THAT TELLS US THAT THESE LIMIT ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES? >> THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL STUDY, COUNCILMAN. >> WHYTE: DO WE HAVE ANY STUDIES FROM ANYWHERE AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE IT SAYS THAT? >> I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY STUDIES. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS THE "WHEREAS," WHERE THAT COMES FROM. >> WHYTE: THESE RECITALS WE'RE PUTTING IN HERE, NOT SURE WHY THOSE ARE IN THERE BECAUSE I WOULD TELL YOU I DON'T THINK THOSE ARE TRUE AND THE FACILITY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, OF COURSE, THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PURCHASED, IS IT YOUR UNDERSTANDING, JOHN, THAT THAT WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY PRIOR TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PURCHASE? >> YES, SIR. I BELIEVE IT WAS A VACANT BUILDING. >> WHYTE: NOW WE MAY HAVE ACTIVITY THERE. THERE MAY BE JOBS CREATED AND THINGS LIKE THAT. >> JUST TO BE SURE AND LEVEL SET WITH EVERYBODY WITH THE WHEREAS CLAUSES, THOSE DID COME FROM ACADEMIC STUDIES AND THAT'S WHERE THE WHEREAS CLAUSE CAME FROM WITH THAT SPECIFIC PROPERTY. BECAUSE IT IS OCCUPIED BY THE FEDS, THERE IS NO TAX COLLECTED ON THAT PROPERTY. >> WHYTE: WHAT DID YOU SAY? ACADEMIC JOURNALS? >> CORRECT. >> WHYTE: I MEAN, AGAIN, AN ACADEMIC JOURNAL CAN SAY WHATEVER IT WANTS BUT THE FACTS ON THE GROUND ARE WE DON'T KNOW OF ANY OF THESE PRIVATE FACILITIES WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF SAN ANTONIO. >> CORRECT. >> WHYTE: I MEAN, AGAIN, LOOK. EACH OF US UP HERE APPOINTS A ZONING COMMISSIONER AS WELL AND AS STATED IN THE PUBLIC COMMENT, THE VOTE WAS 10-1 AGAINST DOING THIS. IS THAT RIGHT? >> THAT'S CORRECT, YES, SIR. >> WHYTE: 10-1. WHAT WERE THE REASONS THE ZONING COMMISSION COMMISSIONERS GAVE FOR VOTING THIS DOWN? >> THERE WAS AN INITIAL DISCUSSION FOR CONTINUANCE. I THINK THE CHAIR ASKED THEY GO AHEAD AND TAKE UP THE ITEM THAT DAY. IT WAS LAST WEEK ON THE 7TH AND THE DISCUSSION CENTERED AROUND THAT THIS WAS A POLITICAL DECISION THAT COUNCIL SHOULD MAKE. THEY DID NOT WANT TO VISIT IT AGAIN SO THAT'S HOW THEY ULTIMATELY GOT TO THE DENIAL. >> WHYTE: WHAT THEY SAID, MANY OF THEM, WAS THEY DID NOT SEE THE MERITS -- [02:15:01] >> VIAGRAN: POINT OF ORDER. CAN THE COUNCILMAN PARAPHRASE SOMETHING ON RECORD THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH MINUTES? I WOULD PREFER THE ACTUAL MINUTES OF THAT MEETING THAN WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SAID. >> THANK YOU, COUNCILWOMAN. COUNCILMAN, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR POINTS AND WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT ANYTHING THAT IS IN THE RECORD IS PROVIDED TO EVERYBODY. >> WHYTE: SURE. AND THE MEETING WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND PEOPLE COULD WATCH IT ON TV AND PEOPLE COULD ATTEND IT. WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY WAS THAT THE ZONING COMMISSION DIDN'T FEEL LIKE THE MERITS OF CHANGING THE CODE EXISTED. SO AGAIN, THAT WAS A 10-1 VOTE. EACH OF US HAS A ZONING COMMISSIONER AND I HOPE WE WOULD HAVE ALL TALKED TO THEM BEFORE WE CAME UP HERE TODAY. THE REALITY OF THIS MOMENT IS THAT THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS. AND THE TIME AND CITY RESOURCES THAT HAS BEEN USED TO COME UP WITH AND CREATE THIS NEW ORDINANCE AND THIS CHANGE TO THE CODE IS A FLAT-OUT WASTE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS. WHAT IS BEING ATTEMPTED HERE TODAY IS TO USE OUR CODE AND CHANGE IT TO MAKE A POLITICAL STATEMENT. A POLITICAL STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. AND TO USE OUR CODE FOR THOSE PURPOSES ARE SIMPLY WRONG. ALL THE ADDITIONAL NOTIFICATION PROVISIONS AND THINGS THAT THESE AMENDMENTS WILL MAKE, I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEM. BUT WHAT I DO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS MY COLLEAGUES, WHO AGAIN I RESPECT ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO UP HERE. AND I UNDERSTAND ALL THE HEAT, ALL THE PRESSURE YOU HAVE FROM FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, YOUR VOTERS, WHO ARE UPSET ABOUT WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS DOING IN TERMS OF IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. BUT SOMETIMES, RATHER THAN PLACATING TO THOSE FOLKS, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THEM AND SAY, QUITE SIMPLY, WE DO NOT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THESE MATTERS. THE ANSWER IS NOT TO DIRECT CITY STAFF TO USE TIME AND MONEY TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING SIMPLY SO THAT YOU CAN SHOW IT TO THESE FOLKS AND SAY, HEY, WE DID SOMETHING. THIS NEW ORDINANCE HERE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING. THIS IS A POLITICAL STATEMENT THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE. AND COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ LED THIS EFFORT AND HE'S GOOD AT GINNING THINGS UP LIKE THIS. YOU ARE. BUT THIS IS AN UNBELIEVABLE WASTE OF TAXPAYER RESOURCES. I DON'T WANT TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE HOURS THAT THE ZONING COMMISSION, THEIR STAFF, OUR STAFF, OUR LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT IN TO COMING UP WITH THIS ORDINANCE THAT DOES ABSOLUTELY NOTHING EXCEPT MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT YOU WANT TO MAKE. IT'S NOT RIGHT. WE HAVE REALLY IMPORTANT ISSUES TO GET TO AS A CITY GOVERNMENT AND WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS. MAYOR, IT'S FOR THOSE REASONS I'M GOING TO BE VOTING NO ON THIS ITEM TODAY. [APPLAUSE] >> MAYOR JONES: THAT WAS JACK FINGER. I WANT TO REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, PLEASE WHEN YOU'RE MAKING YOUR COMMENTS, DON'T DIRECT THEM TO ANY INDIVIDUAL UP HERE BUT MORE FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION. DIRECT THEM -- >> YOU CAN DIRECT THEM TOWARD ME. I'LL GLADLY TAKE THEM. I DO WANT TO -- TO THAT POINT, IN FACT. THE TWO LETTERS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, IN CASE IT INFORMS ANYONE ELSE'S COMMENTS. AGAIN, YOU HAVE THE HARD COPY. BUT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC THAT IS WATCHING, THE LETTER FROM LEO GOMEZ, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF BROOKS. I WILL READ JUST ONE SENTENCE OF IT. THE INTRODUCTION OF A DETENTION FACILITY WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH BROOKS' MISSION TO FOSTER A VIBRANT, INCLUSIVE, AND ECONOMICALLY-THRIVING COMMUNITY. JAMES NORDE HEAD OF SAGE ON THE EAST SIDE ELABORATES FURTHER. CERTAIN FACILITIES SUCH AS ADULT-ORIENTED BUSINESSES, ALCOHOL SALES, HEAVY COMMERCIAL OR INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS OR INCARCERATION AND DETENTION FACILITIES WILL VERY LIKELY HAVE DISASTROUS EFFECTS ON THE ECONOMIC MOBILITY AND SOCIAL [02:20:04] COHESION OF NEARBY RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. THE PROPOSED NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ENSURE THAT ANY ENTITY SEEKING TO CONSTRUCT, CONVERT, OR OPERATE A POTENTIALLY HARMFUL FACILITY ENGAGES WITH THE CITY EARLY IN THE PROCESS, ALLOWING FOR PROPER REVIEW, OVERSIGHT, AND COORDINATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND INFRASTRUCTURE. AND FINALLY, AS MR. NORDE NOTES, TAKEN TOGETHER THESE AMENDMENTS STRENGTHEN THE CITY'S ABILITY TO MANAGE LAND USE AND UPHOLD DECISION MAKING. THEY STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN LOCAL REGULATORY OVERSIGHT, THE SUPREMACY OF FEDERAL LAW, AND THE NEED TO CENTER THE INTEREST OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS. I DID WANT TO INTRODUCE THOSE IN LIGHT OF THE COUNCILMAN'S COMMENTS ABOUT THERE BEING POTENTIALLY A LACK OF INPUT FROM FOLKS THAT WOULD BE SUFFICIENTLY AWARE AND SUFFICIENTLY ABLE TO COMMENT ON THEIR UNDERSTANDING, AS ECONOMIC LEADERS IN OUR COMMUNITY, OF WHAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD DO. COUNCILMAN MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ. >> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: MAYOR, I FIND IT COMICAL THAT COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY STUDIES ABOUT ECONOMIC IMPACT AND SCOFFED AT THE IDEA OF AN ACADEMIC JOURNAL, THE VERY THING HE WAS ASKING ABOUT. I FIND IT LAUGHABLE THAT HE CALLED THIS A WASTE OF TIME WHEN THE EIGHT MINUTES HE SPENT TRYING TO GET A QUOTE IN THE PAPER WAS IN FACT A WASTE OF TAXPAYER TIME AND RESOURCES. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY SIMPLE CONCEPT. WE ARE NOW REQUIRING NOTIFICATION IF A PRIVATE ENTITY SEEKS TO BUILD, CONVERT, OR OPERATE A DETENTION FACILITY AND CREATING ZONING STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS. ALL THINGS WITHIN OUR PURVIEW. 90% OF DETAINED IMMIGRANTS ARE HELD IN A PRIVATE-OPERATED FACILITY AND ICE OFTEN TURNS TO PRIVATELY-OPERATED FACILITIES WHEN THEIR OWN FACILITIES EXCEED CAPACITY. AS WE IMAGINE WILL HAPPEN WITH THE MASSIVE WAREHOUSE THAT WILL NOT HAVE THE SEWAGE CAPACITY THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE HEIGHTS OF CRUELTY AND TRAUMA THAT CAN AND WILL BE INFLICTED BY ICE. IT HAS BEEN HORRENDOUS THUS THUS FAR AND IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION. THESE PRIVATE OPERATORS ARE WORKING TO REOPEN THEIR IDLING FACILITIES AND THEY WILL BEGIN LOOKING AT CITIES WITH INCREASED ICE PRESENCE TO OPERATE NEW FACILITIES. IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO THINK BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY FACILITIES NOW THAT THERE WON'T BE IN THE FUTURE. FOR THOSE WITH ANY SORT OF BUSINESS ACUMEN, YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN ACTIONS HAPPEN AT THE STATE OR FEDERAL LEVEL IT SHAPES THE INVESTMENTS AND ACTIONS OF VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING THE PRIVATE DETENTION INDUSTRY. THEY ARE GOING TO BE PREDATORY AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHUT THAT DOWN BEFORE IT STARTS. I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. VISION QUEST, AN OPERATOR THAT DETAINED YOUTH, AN ENTITY ACCUSED OF SEXUALLY ABUSING AND HARMING YOUTH SOUGHT TO OPERATE IN DISTRICT 2 IN 2019 AS A RESULT OF INCREASED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. THIS IS REAL SO LET'S NOT PLAY DENSE, PLEASE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SUPPORTING THIS ITEM TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: JOHN PETEREK, YOU CHARACTERIZED THE ZONING COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS VOTED ON THIS. WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH MY COLLEAGUES? >> THERE WAS A HEALTHY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE CODE CHANGES BEFORE THE ZONING COMMISSION. THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT A DELAY AND A REHEARING OF THE ITEM, WHICH ULTIMATELY DID NOT PASS. ULTIMATELY, THE CHAIR URGED THAT THERE WAS ACTION LAST WEEK. AND THAT ACTION WAS A DENIAL WITH THE IDEA THAT THIS WAS A POLITICAL ITEM FOR THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE AND THAT IF THEY WERE TO COME BACK, THEY WOULD BE BACK AT THE SAME SPOT. THEY OFFERED THEIR DENIAL AND SENT IT TO YOU FOR CONSIDERATION. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, JOHN. COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS. >> SPEARS: I TOO HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. ARE THERE ANY DETENTION FACILITIES THAT HOLD PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR WILL WITHOUT A GOVERNMENT NEXUS? HOW WOULD YOU HOLD SOMEONE WITHOUT THE GOVERNMENT BEING INVOLVED? >> I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE LEGAL, MA'AM. >> SPEARS: IT'S NOT, RIGHT? >> WALSH: CORRECT, COUNCILWOMAN. >> THE LAST WORD WAS NEXUS AND I WAS WORKING THROUGH IT IN MY HEAD. >> SPEARS: THE GOVERNMENT BEING INVOLVED. >> SURE. >> SPEARS: OKAY. WOULD ANOTHER MIGRANT PROCESSING FACILITY BE EXEMPT UNDER THIS? >> WOULD ANOTHER MIGRANT -- >> I'LL INTERJECT. IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT WE SET UP, COUNCILWOMAN, THE [02:25:01] DISTINCTION HERE -- AND WE'RE VERY CLEAR ABOUT HOW WE DEFINE WHAT WE ARE REGULATING HERE. AND DETENTION FACILITIES IS EFFECTIVELY THOSE THAT DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY OF BEING ABLE TO EXERCISE FREE WILL. SO THIS WOULD NOT GOVERN THE TYPE OF SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT WE ESTABLISH WITH THE MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. >> SPEARS: SO THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO A MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. >> NO, COUNCILWOMAN. IT DOES NOT. >> SPEARS: OKAY. I WANT TO POINT OUT WE ARE STILL OWED 13.6 MILLION TAX DOLLARS FROM FEMA ON THAT MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTER. I FEEL LIKE THIS ITEM RAISES CONCERNS FOR ME ABOUT OVERREACH AND INCONSISTENT APPLICATION AND SINGLING OUT CERTAIN FACILITIES, WHICH ARE HARD TO IDENTIFY FOR ME, AND EXCLUDING OTHERS. THE ZONING COMMISSION VOTED THIS DOWN 10-1. AS COUNCILMAN WHYTE SAID, WE EACH GOT TO APPOINT A ZONING COMMISSIONER. THEY VOTED THIS DOWN AS OVERLY BROAD AND NOT WELL REASONED. THIS SHOULD MAKE US ALL THINK ABOUT WHY THEY DID THAT. AND THEN WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING APPROVAL. WE NEED TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT CREATING A FRAMEWORK THAT PLACES AN UNDUE BURDEN ON LAWFUL BUSINESS OPERATIONS AND INVITES CONSTITUTIONAL CHALLENGES. THIS PROPOSED MORATORIUM APPEARS TO PRESUME NON-COMPLIANCE UNLESS A BUSINESS CAN PROVE EXEMPTION, WHICH MAY NOT HOLD UP UNDER SCRUTINY. AS DRAFTED, THIS DOES NOT ESTABLISH CLEAR, ENFORCEABLE, AND EQUITABLE STANDARDS AND INSTEAD CREATES AMBIGUITY AND POTENTIAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER TEXAS CITIES, LIKE HOUSTON, HOW DECISIONS IN THIS SPACE CAN ESCALATE INTO STATE-LEVEL CONFLICTS WITH REAL FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES AND WE MUST AVOID PUTTING SAN ANTONIO IN THIS POSITION. REGARDLESS OF YOUR PERSONAL VIEWS -- AND I TRULY UNDERSTAND THE PRESSURE MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE FACING AND MANY PEOPLE FEEL IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE IMMIGRATION POLICY IS -- THIS APPROACH IS LEGALLY UNSOUND AND IT MISREPRESENTS WHAT WE CAN DO AT CITY COUNCIL. THIS IS JUST NOT IN OUR LANE. UNDER THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO VETO OR OBSTRUCT LAWFUL FEDERAL ACTIONS. CITIES CANNOT NULLIFY FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT AND SUGGESTING OTHERWISE CREATES FALSE EXPECTATIONS FOR OUR RESPECTS. RESIDENTS. IN MY MIND THIS IS UNDERMINING WHAT WE CAN DO AS A LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE CAN ENFORCE, REGULATE. IT'S JUST CREATING A PROBLEM WHERE THERE ISN'T SOMETHING WE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT. I THINK THE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS ELECTED US TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE WITHIN OUR AUTHORITY AND THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY, TRANSPORTATION, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON THOSE THINGS. RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE MEANS RESPECTING THE LIMITS OF OUR LOCAL AUTHORITY AND BEING HONEST WITH OUR RESIDENTS ABOUT WHAT CITY COUNCIL CAN AND CANNOT CONTROL. BUT TURNING CITY HALL INTO A TRIBUNAL IS NOT LAWFUL OR PRODUCTIVE IN A PATH FORWARD. SAN ANTONIO DESERVES CLARITY, LAWFUL LEADERSHIP, AND FOCUS ON DELIVERING REAL RESULTS FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. FEDERAL MATTERS SHOULD BE HANDLED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD REMAIN FOCUSED ON SERVING THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY. I WILL BE VOTING NO ON TODAY'S ORDINANCE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> MAYOR, IF I MAY INTERJECT, BEFORE WE GO ON WITH COUNCIL DISCUSSION, TO BE SURE THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT WHAT IS PROPOSED BEFORE YOU TODAY RECOGNIZES BOTH THE SUPREMACY OF STATE LAW AND FEDERAL LAW AND IS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF WHAT THE CITY IS AUTHORIZED TO DO. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, LIZ FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN. >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU. HUGE FAN OF THE U.S. CONSTITUTION BUT THIS -- AND MY PLANNING AND ZONING COMMITTEES. HOWEVER, THIS IS A DECISION THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE MADE HERE AT THE DAIS. IT IS NOT STRICTLY ABOUT IMMIGRATION. THIS IS ABOUT OUR CODE AND OUR ZONING. AND ADVANCING THIS ITEM TODAY IS NECESSARY STEP TO ALIGN OUR REGULATORY FRAMEWORK WITH THE CLEAR POLICY DIRECTION ESTABLISHED BY THE CITY COUNCIL [02:30:04] FOLLOWING THROUGH ON WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR COMMUNITY. AND NOT JUST WHAT WE HEARD ON MARCH 5. WE KNEW THIS CONVERSATION STARTED BEFORE. IT STARTED WITH THE KIDS AND CAGES DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. IT STARTED WITH THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING ABOUT WHAT WE DO WITH OUR YOUTH IN HOTELS. DO WE MAKE THEM STAY THERE -- OR MINORS. DO WE MAKE THEM STAY THERE? HOW DO WE REGULATE THAT? WHO DOES THAT REGULATE? YES, IT DOES COME FROM THE STATE BUT THE STATE IS NOT HIRING MORE STATE OFFICIALS, MORE STATE EMPLOYEES OR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES TO DO THIS JOB. THEY ARE CREATING A MARKET. THEY ARE CREATING A PRIVATE MARKET FOR THIS. SO WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY IS EXACTLY WHAT -- AND YOU CAN GOOGLE IT OR AI, CHATGPT IT, SAYING WHAT WE HAVE, WHICH IS LOOKING AT OUR ZONING AND OUR LAND USE. AND WE ARE A CITY -- THE SIXTH OR SEVENTH, DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU GOOGLE -- LARGEST CITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES. WE HAVE SOME RESOURCE ISSUES. IF ALL THESE PRIVATE FACILITIES WERE COMING IN, 9 AND 10 WHERE INFRASTRUCTURE IS GREAT, HAVE AT IT. BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE THEY'RE COMING TO. THEY'RE COMING TO DISTRICT 2. THEY'RE COMING TO DISTRICT 3 AND WE ARE TRYING TO BE ALIGNED WITH OUR GROWTH AND HOW WE MOVE FORWARD. THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT STRIKES AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE BETWEEN REGULATORY CLARITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY TRUST. BY ESTABLISHING UNIFORM NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS ACROSS THE CODE, BUILDING AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS, THE CITY ENSURES EARLY AWARENESS, INTRADEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION, AND OPERATIONAL TRANSPARENCY FOR AN ENTITY SEEKING TO CONSTRUCT, CONCERT, OR OPERATE A DETENTION FACILITY HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. THE INCLUSION OF A SPECIFIC-USE AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENT FURTHER REINFORCES OUR OVERSIGHT ROLE, PROVIDING A STRUCTURED CASE-BY-CASE REVIEW THAT INCORPORATES PUBLIC INPUT AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS. WE ARE NOT SAYING NO. WE ARE SAYING FACILITIES WOULD ALSO BE PROHIBITED WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS, PRIMARY OR SECONDARY SCHOOLS, PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND PUBLIC PARKS. ALTHOUGH CITY COUNCIL COULD STILL REAUTHORIZE, THROUGH THE ZONING PROCESS, IT DEMONSTRATES A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO LAND USE COMPATIBILITY AND COMMUNITY IMPACT. THE ADDITION OF A CLEAR DEFINITION OF DETENTION FACILITY REDUCES AMBIGUITY AND SUPPORTS ENFORCEABILITY UNLESS AND UNTIL A VALID EXEMPTION IS ESTABLISHED. SO JACK, NEXT TIME YOU COME UP HERE AND YOU TALK ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DETENTION FACILITIES YOU JUST PROMOTED. FROM A POLICY AND A HUMAN-CENTERED PERSPECTIVE, THIS IS ABOUT LISTENING TO OUR NEIGHBORS. THAT'S WHAT WE WERE ELECTED TO DO. THEY HAVE COME OUT IN FORCE TO DO THAT. WE HAVE TWO BUSINESSES THAT ALREADY SAID THIS DOESN'T WORK FOR US BUSINESS-WISE. NOBODY IS SAYING I WANT TO MOVE INTO THAT SUBDIVISION RIGHT NEXT TO THE DETENTION FACILITY. THAT IS ALL WE'RE DOING HERE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE OTHER BUSINESS COMMUNITIES, ONCE THEY HAVE THE CONVERSATION -- BECAUSE THIS ISN'T ABOUT ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER. THIS IS ABOUT BEING TEXAN AND TEXANS LIKE NICE THINGS. AND TEXANS DON'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO DETENTION FACILITIES. I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT WE MOVE THIS FORWARD TODAY AND I WILL BE VOTING IN SUPPORT OF IT. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA. >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU, MAYOR. I WOULD JUST SAY THAT EVERY DECISION THAT IS MADE UP HERE IS POLITICAL. THE FACT THAT THIS IS MORE POLITICAL THAN SOMETHING ELSE, I DON'T BUY THAT. EVERYTHING WE DO IS POLITICAL UP HERE. AND IN THE LETTER THE MAYOR'S OFFICE SHARED WITH US FROM DHS TO HENRY CUELLAR'S OFFICE THAT THE CURRENT DETENTION FACILITY THEY PURCHASED HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, THEY WANT TO HOUSE A DAILY POPULATION OF 500 TO 1500 QUOTE, UNQUOTE ALIENS, ALSO KNOWN AS PEOPLE, HERE IN SAN ANTONIO. AND WHEN I GO TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND TALK TO MY RESIDENTS, HAD A SAFETY TOWN HALL IN MARBACH AREA WITH COUNCILMAN GALVAN, DIDN'T COME UP AS A CONCERN, AS A SAFETY CONCERN. THAT PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF IMMIGRATION ISSUES. THAT'S NOT AT THE FOREFRONT HERE. WHEN IT COMES TO ZONING, SO MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES OFTEN [02:35:02] SAY THAT WE AS INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS KNOW WHAT'S BEST IN OUR OWN DISTRICT. AND SO THIS GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO DENY ZONING FOR THINGS THAT WE DO NOT WANT IN OUR DISTRICT. IF NOBODY WANTS ONE OF THESE FACILITIES, GO FOR IT. I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT -- THANK YOU TO BROOKS AND SAGE FOR THEIR LETTERS. I ALSO -- WHILE SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T RESPOND, I ALSO DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY SAYING THIS IS GOOD FOR BUSINESS AND THAT THEY WANT THIS HERE. IN FACT, AS YOU ALL RECALL, GREATER:SATX CAME HERE AND TOLD US THAT SOME OF THE HEAD WINDS FOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HERE IN SAN ANTONIO WAS BECAUSE OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION POLICIES AND FEDERAL TARIFFS THAT ARE BEING LED BY THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. SO WE KNOW THAT THIS IS DOCUMENTED BAD FOR BUSINESS HERE. SO IF YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS HELPFUL OR GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE, THEN IT DOESN'T HURT TO PASS THIS. BUT I WILL SUPPORT THIS. I THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME DOWN TO CITY HALL AND ADVOCATED FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE TOO AFRAID TO BE HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I LOOK FORWARD TO PASSING THIS. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER ALDERETE GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK DSD FOR WORKING DILIGENTLY TO GET THESE RECOMMENDATIONS DONE QUICKLY. AND THANK YOU, LIZ, FOR ALLOWING US TO BE CLEAR ON WHAT IS AND IS NOT IN OUR CONTROL. I THINK -- AND IN OUR PURVIEW. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW. ALL OF US ARE FEELING THE IMPACTS OF ICE IN OUR CITY. THERE IS CONCERN FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR FAMILIES, OUR FRIENDS. ACTUALLY, IN THE COMMUNITY HEALTH MEETING CHAIRED BY COUNCILMAN GALVAN, IT WAS NOTED THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS 344,100 IMMIGRANTS LIVING IN OUR CITY. THAT IS 12.7% OF SAN ANTONIO'S POPULATION. THESE NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT ILLUSTRATES THE IMPACT THAT OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION HAS ON OUR CITY. I MIGHT BE WRONG ON THIS. I THINK THEY SAID SOMETHING LIKE 24% OF THEM WERE ENTREPRENEURS. AND SO THE IMPACT THAT OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION HAS, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AND OUR FRIENDS, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE STARTING BUSINESSES AND EMPLOYING OTHERS. IT'S FELT IN ALL ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES. ICE DETENTION FACILITIES CREATE HARM, NOT ONLY FOR THE PEOPLE DETAINED IN THEM BUT FOR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. SO, YOU KNOW, COUNCILMAN WHYTE, I HEAR YOU THAT TODAY'S ACTION WILL HAVE ZERO IMPACT ON THE DETENTION CENTER COMING ON THE EAST SIDE. BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WE MUST -- WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL THOSE LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO, REGARDLESS OF THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS. SO I'M PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS ITEM TODAY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING THE WORK TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MEZA GONZALEZ. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO DSD AND TO CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR WORKING SO QUICKLY ON THIS ITEM. AS A GOVERNING BODY, I THINK WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT ON LAND USE AND PUBLIC SAFETY MATTERS. THIS ORDINANCE I BELIEVE WOULD GIVE US A FRAMEWORK TO ENSURE THAT THESE FACILITIES ARE NOT OPERATING IN A VACUUM BUT RATHER IN ALIGNMENT WITH CITY CODE AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS. LET ME BE CLEAR. THIS IS NOT ABOUT LIMITING LAWFUL OPERATIONS, IT'S ABOUT ACCOUNTABILITY. IF A FACILITY IS GOING TO EXIST WITHIN OUR CITY, I THINK IT SHOULD DO SO TRANSPARENTLY AND WITH THE APPROPRIATE SAFEGUARDS IN PLACE FOR BOTH THE INDIVIDUAL HOUSED THERE AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. I VIEW THIS AS A PROACTIVE STEP BY CLEARLY DEFINING REQUIREMENTS UP FRONT. LIKE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE MENTIONED, WE REDUCE AMBIGUITY, AVOID FUTURE CONFLICTS, AND ENSURE OPERATORS UNDERSTAND THEIR OBLIGATIONS FROM THE START. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD STAND TO REINFORCE OUR COMMITMENT TO THOUGHTFUL GROWTH AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE. WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT TYPES OF FACILITIES INTEGRATE INTO OUR BROADER PLANNING EFFORTS. ULTIMATELY, I THINK THIS ORDINANCE STRIKES A REASONABLE BALANCE, ALLOWING FOR LAWFUL OPERATIONS WHILE ENSURING THEY ALIGN WITH EXPECTATIONS AND STANDARDS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I RESPECTFULLY SUPPORT THIS ORDINANCE MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO. >> CASTILLO: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, JOHN FOR THE PRESENTATION. JUST A COUPLE OF SHORT NOTES. IN TERMS OF CITY COUNCIL STAYING WITHIN OUR LANE, CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO OWN THE LANE, PAVE THE LANE. THEY'RE THE UDC, CODE, AND BUILDING AND STANDARDS PROCESS. WHAT WE HAVE IN FRONT OF US ARE AMENDMENTS TO BUILDING-RELATED CODES FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, FIRE PREVENTION CODE, AS WELL AS THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE. WITH THAT, I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE. WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE A PRIVATE SYSTEM HERE, WHAT WE KNOW IS THERE IS A SHIFT. WHETHER IT'S HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, OR EDUCATION, TO [02:40:04] PRIVATIZE MANY OF THESE INDUSTRIES AND THAT INCLUDES THESE FACILITIES. WITH THAT, I'LL BE SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER KAUR. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR. JUST VERY BRIEFLY. I'D LIKE FOR US TO NOT THINK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DO BASED ON CITY HOUR TIME. IF WE CALCULATED EVERY REQUEST WE MADE AT EACH OF OUR MEETING, WE WOULD PROBABLY BE IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD MAKE THE MERITS OF AN ARGUMENT FOR WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY BASED ON THE WASTAGE OF CITY STAFF TIME BECAUSE WE WOULD ARGUE THAT EVERY SINGLE THING WE DO UP HERE COULD BE A WASTAGE ON CITY STAFF TIME. AS WE GO INTO BUDGET, I THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR COMMUNITY AT-LARGE AND LET'S MAKE THE MERITS OF ARGUMENT BASED ON WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO HELP OR NOT HELP OUR COMMUNITY, BASED ON WHAT OUR CONSTITUENTS WANT TO SAY. YOU CAN DISAGREE ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK YOUR CONSTITUENTS MIGHT SAY BUT LET'S FOCUS ON THE MERITS OF THE ISSUE. I'LL SUPPORT THIS ITEM. THANKS, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN. >> GALVAN: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CITY STAFF. I THINK IT'S A VERY SOLID RECOMMENDATION TO HAVE. I THINK IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO OTHER CONVERSATIONS WE HAVE REGULARLY AROUND UDC AND ZONING THE CHANGES AND WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THROUGHOUT OUR CITY, ET CETERA. REALLY QUICKLY, I'M GLAD TO HEAR SOME FOLKS DON'T SEE ACADEMIC JOURNAL I HOPE THOSE THINGS NEVER CHANGE AND DON'T SHIFT DURING BUDGET OR ANY OTHER CONVERSATIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN PLAY A CLIP -- NO, IT'S TOO MUCH TIME ON THAT. MY BAD. OVERALL, THOUGH, I ALSO THINK -- RELATED TO THE ZONING COMMISSION, ABSOLUTELY RESPECT THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS AND I WONDER IF THERE'S ANY RECORD OF PEOPLE VOTING AGAINST ANY APPROVALS THAT ZONING COMMISSION HAD AND MAYBE ON THE -- OR COUNCIL CONVERSATION WE HAVE WITH ZONING IF THERE'S DIFFERENT DECISIONS MADE. I THINK IT HAPPENS SOMETIMES. WE HAVE THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY ON ZONING AND THIS IS WHAT THIS ORDINANCE WOULD GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY TO ME. ANYHOO, I'M FOR THIS INITIATIVE AND THANK YOU, MAYOR FOR THE TIME. >> MAYOR JONES: HAS EVERYONE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON THIS ISSUE SPOKEN? OKAY. THANK YOU AGAIN TO THE STAFF. THANK YOU TO LEGAL FOR DOING SUCH A GOOD JOB AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE CROSSED ALL THE TS AND DOTTED ALL THE IS TO ENSURE WE ARE SQUARELY WITHIN WHAT WE ARE ABLE TO DO AS A MUNICIPALITY. I WANT TO THANK THE BUSINESS LEADERS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO QUICKLY ARTICULATE FROM THEIR STANDPOINT WHAT THIS WOULD MEAN. I THINK IT IS, AS HAS BEEN REFERENCED BY SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES, IS WORTH NOTING THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SAGE ON THE EAST SIDE AND BROOKS ON THE SOUTH SIDE. UNDERSTANDING WHERE THESE PRIVATE DETENTION FACILITIES WOULD LIKELY SET UP, IF THEY CHOSE TO COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS, YOU KNOW -- I'M NOT NORMALLY A NIMBE PERSON BUT CERTAINLY THIS IS A ZONING ACTION THAT MAKES SENSE. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES. BETTER UTILIZING AND DETERMINING WHERE THESE FACILITIES WILL GO WILL HELP ENSURE WE ARE BEST PROTECTING OUR PROPERTY TAX VALUES AS BEST ABLE. AS WE RECOGNIZE IT'S PROPERTY TAX VALUES CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOWER BOND CAPACITY WE WILL HAVE. BEING SMART ABOUT WHERE THESE FACILITIES CAN AND CANNOT GO IS NOT ONLY GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITIES THEY WOULD IMPACT BUT OF COURSE ALSO OUR PROPERTY TAX, WHICH HELPS US TO FUND ALL THE OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THERE'S A MOTION AND A SECOND FOR APPROVAL OF ITEM NO. 19. PLEASE VOTE. OKAY. THE MOTION CARRIES. NO EXEC? THANK YOU. THAT IS THE CONCLUSION OF BUSINESS. THE TIME IS NOW 11:56 AND THIS MEETING IS * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.